Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and their health impact on children
Publication Date
3-12-2021
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage is a major contributor to sugar-based calories in the daily diet of many children. Children (up to 18 years) have different nutritional needs and metabolic pathways than adults. Although many studies explored the health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages among adults, few studies included children in their analysis. The purpose of this review was to evaluate and summarize the current global trends in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the health effects of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in children. The review identified several health effects related to children’s sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, such as childhood obesity, metabolic syndrome, early menarche, and dental caries. A decline in children’s Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was noted in Australia, Canada, Norway, USA, and UK between 2000-2010 but increased in countries such as Mexico and South Korea, and the trend remained stable in China and Russia. Several influencing factors for children’s sugar-sweetened beverage consumption were identified, including parents' perception and attitude towards sugar-sweetened beverage, Children’s gender differences, and socio-economic status (SES). More longitudinal studies are required to determine the cause-effect relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and the reported health effects. Researchers should also consider the influence of social and behavioral factors identified in this review when planning intervention programs for children.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Khan RK, Siraj MA, Kheya HR, Khalid S, Tabassum M, Zaman SB. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and their health impact on children. Discoveries Reports, 2020; 4: e17. DOI: 10.15190/drep.2021.2
