New Research: Strategies to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption in Kids

Share On Social!

Want to help help Latino and all kids achieve good health?

Check out new research that identifies several key ways to reduce sugary drink consumption among children ages 0-5.

The research, published in July 2018 in the journal Obesity Reviews by Healthy Eating Research, analyzed 27 studies that assessed an intervention to decrease sugary drink consumption is high-income countries.

“Overall, evidence suggests that interventions successful at reducing SSB consumption among 0- to 5-year-olds often focused on vulnerable populations, were conducted in preschool/daycare settings, specifically targeted only SSBs or only oral hygiene, included multiple intervention strategies, and had higher intervention intensity/contact time,” according to the research.

Strategy Suggestions From The New Study

After reviewing the 27 studies, researchers found strategies to tackling the reduction of sugary drink consumption. The strategies include:

• In-person individual education
• In-person group education
• Passive education such as pamphlets
• Use of technology
• Training childcare/healthcare providers
• Changes to the physical access of beverages

Interventions that focused on lower-income or minority children were often more successful at reducing sugary drink consumption.

“Three of the four studies including racial/ethnic minorities implemented culturally relevant strategies, such as health education in Spanish and referencing cultural beverages such as agua de horchata, and were delivered by local community members,” according to the research, “suggesting these may be important approaches to promote success.”

Latino Kids & Sugary Beverages

The majority of Latino kids have had a sugary drink by age 2, and Latino kids at all ages consume more sugary drinks than the average child, according to a Salud America! Research Review.

Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the obesity epidemic.

Many programs and policies are working to address this rising sugary drink consumption and obesity epidemic.

These include:

• Removing sugary drink options from kid’s menus, like in Baltimore and Lafayette, Colo.
• Better regulation of sugary drink marketing. Instead, frame junk food marketing as a health equity issue.
• Sugary drink awareness campaigns, like ones in Texas, Minnesota, and California.