Intake of sugar sweetened soft drinks among adolescents: Trends and social inequality in Denmark 2002-2018

Nutr Health. 2020 Mar;26(1):3-8. doi: 10.1177/0260106019900742. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Abstract

Background: Intake of sugar sweetened soft drinks (SSSD) has decreased among adolescents, but trends in social inequality in SSSD intake are unknown.

Aim: Examine trends in social inequality in SSSD intake among adolescents in Denmark during 2002-2018.

Methods: Five Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys with data on SSSD intake and parents' occupational social class (OSC) from nationally representative samples of 11, 13 and 15 year olds, n =20,112.

Results: The overall prevalence of daily SSSD intake decreased from 10.1% in 2002 to 6.4% in 2018. The prevalence decreased in both high OSC (from 8% to 5%) and middle OSC (from 10% to 6%) but remained around 12% in low OSC. The odds ratio (OR) estimates of low compared with high OSC increased over the years around an overall OR of 2.01 (1.74-2.34).

Conclusions: Danish adolescents' SSSD intake decreased during 2002-2018 and was higher the lower the parents' OSC. Thus, social inequality increased during 2002-2018.

Keywords: Adolescents; HBSC; social inequality; socioeconomic status; sugar sweetened soft drinks; trend study.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Carbonated Beverages / statistics & numerical data
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Parents
  • Prevalence
  • Schools
  • Social Class*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Sugar-Sweetened Beverages / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires