Self-reported sugar-sweetened beverage intake among college students.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize sugar-sweetened beverage intake of college students.


METHODS
Undergraduates in an urban southern community campus were surveyed anonymously about sugared beverage consumption (soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, sweet ice tea) in the past month.


RESULTS
Two hundred sixty-five undergraduates responded (66% women, 46% minority, 100% of volunteers solicited). Most students (95%) reported sugared beverage intake in the past month, and 65% reported daily intake. Men were more likely than women to report daily intake (74% vs. 61%, p = 0.035). Soda was the most common sugar-sweetened beverage. Black undergraduates reported higher sugared beverage intake than whites (p = 0.02), with 91% of blacks reporting sugar-sweetened fruit drink intake in the past month and 50% reporting daily consumption. Mean estimated caloric intake from combined types of sugar-sweetened beverages was significantly higher among black students than whites, 796 +/- 941 vs. 397 +/- 396 kcal/d (p = 0.0003); the primary source of sugar-sweetened beverage calories among blacks was sugared fruit drinks (556 +/- 918 kcal/d). Younger undergraduates reported significantly higher intake than older students (p = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among undergraduates is substantial and likely contributes considerable non-nutritive calories, which may contribute to weight gain. Black undergraduates may be particularly vulnerable due to higher sugared beverage intake. Obesity prevention interventions targeting reductions in sugar-sweetened beverages in this population merit consideration.
West
Delia Smith
DS
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, #820, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. WestDelia@uams.edu
Bursac
Zoran
Z
Quimby
Donna
D
Prewitt
T Elaine
TE
Spatz
Thea
T
Nash
Creshelle
C
Mays
Glen
G
Eddings
Kenya
K
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001131:Arkansas; D001628:Beverages; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019422:Dietary Sucrose