title: Consuming calories and creating cavities: beverages NZ children associate with sport.
abstract: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are widely available, discounted and promoted, and despite recommendations to the contrary, frequently consumed by children. They provide few nutritional benefits, and their consumption is implicated in a number of poor health outcomes. This study examined the nature of the beverages that sport-playing New Zealand (NZ) children associate with sport. It assessed how well the beverages aligned with nutrition guidelines and relevant regulations, and their likely impacts on health. Eighty-two children (38 girls and 44 boys) aged 10-12 years were purposively selected from netball, rugby and football clubs in low and high socioeconomic neighbourhoods, in Wellington, New Zealand (NZ). Children photographed beverages they associated with sport. The beverages were then purchased and analysed in accordance with NZ nutrition guidelines, and relevant content and labelling regulations, by: package and serving size; energy, sugar, sodium and caffeine content; pH; and advisory statements. The beverages the children associated with sport overwhelmingly had characteristics which do not support children in adhering to NZ nutrition guidelines. Implementing public health mechanisms, such as healthy food and beverage policies, widely promoting water as the beverage of choice in sport, and implementing healthy eating and drinking campaigns in sports clubs, would assist children who play organised sport to select beverages that are in keeping with children's nutrition guidelines. As part of a comprehensive public health approach they would also reduce the substantial, unnecessary and potentially harmful contribution sugar-sweetened beverages make to their diet.
authors.affiliation: HePPRU: Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, PO Box 7343, Wellington, New Zealand. Electronic address: moira.smith@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: HePPRU: Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, PO Box 7343, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jenkin
authors.affiliation: HePPRU: Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, PO Box 7343, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Signal
authors.affiliation: ENCDOR: Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011634:Public Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D013177:Sports; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D002110:Caffeine
keywords: Beverages; Children's sport; Food environment; Food policy; Nutrition