Reduced Availability of Sugar-sweetened Beverages and Diet Soda Has a Limited Impact on Beverage Consumption Patterns in Maine High School Youth

Whatley Blum, Janet E.; Davee, Anne-Marie; Beaudoin, Christina M.; Jenkins, Paul L.; Kaley, Lori A.; Wigand, Debra A.

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2007.12.004

« Previous Next »Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 40, Issue 6 , Pages 341-347, November 2008

Reduced Availability of Sugar-sweetened Beverages and Diet Soda Has a Limited Impact on Beverage Consumption Patterns in Maine High School Youth

Janet E. Whatley Blum, ScD
- Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences Department, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, Maine
- Address for correspondence: Janet E. Whatley Blum, ScD, Associate Professor, Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences Department, University of Southern Maine, 37 College Ave., Gorham, ME 04038; Phone: (207) 780-4175; Fax: (207) 780-4745
Anne-Marie Davee, MS, RD
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Augusta, Maine
Christina M. Beaudoin, PhD
- Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences Department, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, Maine
Paul L. Jenkins, PhD
- Medical Statistics, Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY
Lori A. Kaley, MS, MSB
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Augusta, Maine
Debra A. Wigand, MEd, CHES
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Augusta, Maine

Abstract

Objective

To examine change in high school students' beverage consumption patterns pre- and post-intervention of reduced availability of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and diet soda in school food venues.

Design

A prospective, quasi-experimental, nonrandomized study design.

Setting

Public high schools.

Participants

A convenience sample from control (n = 221) and intervention (n = 235) high schools.

Intervention

Schools aimed to reduce (n = 4) or not change (n = 3) availability of SSB and diet soda in food venues for 1 school year.

Main Outcome Measures

Subjects' beverage servings/day was determined from a food frequency questionnaire pre- and post-intervention.

Analysis

Two-by-two mixed analysis of variance model compared pre- to post-intervention servings/day between control and intervention subjects, stratified by gender.

Results

Consumption of SSB decreased in both intervention and control boys (F = 53.69, P < .05) and girls (F = 22.87, P < .05). Intervention girls decreased diet soda consumption as compared to control girls (F = 6.57, P < .05).

Conclusion and Implications

Reducing availability of SSB in schools did not result in a greater decrease in SSB consumption by intervention as compared to control subjects. The impact of reducing availability of SSB at school may be limited. A better understanding of beverage consumption patterns may be needed to determine the efficacy of school food policies on those youth susceptible to obesity.

Key Words: sugar-sweetened beverages, youth, school food policies