CDC: 30% of US Adults Drink Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Daily

Thirty percent of American adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), including soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, or sweet teas, at least once a day, according to a recent report from the CDC.

Examining data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of US adults 18 years old and older, researchers assessed data on self-reported SSBs consumption in 157,668 participants in 23 states and Washington, DC.
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Participants answered 2 questions regarding SSB consumption:

  • During the past 30 days, how often did you drink regular soda or pop that contains sugar? Do not include diet soda or diet pop.
  • During the past 30 days, how often did you drink sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (such as Kool-Aid and lemonade), sweet tea, and sports or energy drinks (such as Gatorade and Red Bull)? Do not include 100% fruit juice, diet drinks, or artificially sweetened drinks.

Overall, the age-adjusted prevalence of SSB consumption of 1 or more a day was 30.1%, ranging from 18% in Vermont to 47.5% in Mississippi. Consumption was most prevalent among adults 18-24 years old, men, unemployed adults, African Americans, and individuals with less than a high school education. Lowest consumption rates were reported among retired individuals, those over 55 years old, and those with college educations.

“The frequency of daily SSB intake is high among adults, especially among certain subpopulations, as well as persons living in southern states,” they concluded.

“Considering potential adverse health effects of SSB intake and the substantial contribution that SSBs make to excess dietary sugar, continuation of public health efforts aimed at decreasing high SSB intake is important.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:
Park S, Xu F, Town M, et al. Prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverage intake among adults—23 states and the District of Columbia, 2013. MMWR. 2016;65(7);169–174