Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages: Informed choice or a product of
an obesogenic environment?
Kirsten Robertson, Maree Thyne
*University of Otago, New Zealand *
James A. Green
*University of Otago, New Zealand; University of Limerick, Ireland*
Background: Researchers worldwide are advocating for measures to reduce
sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. A tax on fizzy drinks has been
called for in New Zealand, however, ‗Big Businesses‘ oppose the tax,
arguing that it would encroach on consumer freedom to make their own
choices. The present study compares the diet and intentional dietary
control of SSB consumers to non-SSB consumers to determine if SSB
consumption is best explained by factors related to individual control or
rather, wider involvement in an obesogenic environment.
Aim: To compare self-reported dietary consumption and conscious healthy
eating behaviours of New Zealand consumers who had or had not consumed SSBs
over a 24 hour period.
Method: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of a representative
sample of New Zealanders (n=2007), measuring their food and beverage intake
over a 24 hour period and self-reported intentions to eat healthily.
Logistic regression was used to predict SSB consumption within the previous
24 hours.
Results: Compared to non-SSB consumers, SSB consumers were more likely to
have eaten the following: confectionary; dessert or ice cream; takeaways;
and pre-prepared food. SSB consumers were less likely to make a conscious
effort to avoid unhealthy food (e.g., sugar, additives, and cholesterol).
SSB consumers were also less likely to have eaten breakfast.
Discussion: Consuming SSBs was associated with a lack of intentional
dietary control and engagement in the obesogenic environment lending
support to the need for government led regulation of SSBs rather than
interventions targeted at the individual level.