Objective: To provide an overview of beverage consumption patterns using the first nationally representative survey of dietary intake in Brazil.
Design: Beverage consumption data were obtained by 1 d food records in an individual dietary survey.
Setting: Nationwide cross-sectional survey, 2008-2009.
Subjects: Nationally representative sample of individuals aged ≥10 years (n 34 003).
Results: Beverages contributed 17.1 % of total energy consumption. Caloric coffee beverages provided the greatest level of energy overall (464 kJ (111 kcal)/d). Individuals aged 10-18 years (243 kJ (58 kcal)/d) and 19-39 years (230 kJ (55 kcal)/d) consumed a higher proportion of energy from sugar-sweetened soft drinks than individuals over this age (142 kJ (34 kcal)/d for those aged 40-59 years and 79 kJ (19 kcal)/d for those aged ≥60 years).
Conclusions: Overall, the contribution of beverages, particularly sugary beverages, to total energy consumption in Brazil represents an important public health challenge and is comparable with those from other countries.
Keywords: Sugar-sweetened beverages.