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All people in North Carolina live in communities that support healthy food and beverage choices.

Why Is This Important?

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet. Frequently drinking SSB is associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis. Limiting sugary drink intake can help individuals maintain a healthy weight and have healthy dietary patterns.  2022 NC SHIP, pg. 80.

Story Behind the Curve

• In 2011-2014, 6 in 10 youth (63%) and 5 in 10 adults (49%) drank an SSB  on a given day. On average, US youth consumed 143 calories from SSBs, and US adults consumed 145 calories from SSBs on a given day.

• Among youth, SSB intake is higher among boys, adolescents, non-Hispanic Black youth, or youth in families with low incomes.

• Among adults, SSB intake is higher among males, young adults, non-Hispanic Black or Mexican American adults, or adults with low incomes.

• The prevalence of Americans who drink sugary drinks at least once per day differs geographically.

• For example, 68% of adults living in the Northeast, 67% of adults living in the South, 61% of adults living in the West, and 59% of adults living in the Midwest reported drinking SSBs one or more times per day.

• About 31% of adults in nonmetropolitan counties and 25% of adults in metropolitan counties reported drinking SSBs one or more times per day. • Americans drink 52% of SSB calories at home and 48% of SSB calories away from home.

2022 NC SHIP, pg. 81

Partners

Color Me Healthy (CMH)
https://snapedtoolkit.org/interventions/programs/color-me-healthy-cmh/
Diabetes Management NC- DiabetesSmart NC
https://diabetesmanagementnc.com/diabetessmart/
Duke Sanford World Food Policy Center
https://wfpc.sanford.duke.edu/
Durham’s Innovative Nutrition Education (DINE)- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)
https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/success-stories/durhams-innovative-nutrition-education-dine
Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina
https://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/
Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes
https://esmmpreventdiabetes.com/
Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less
https://esmmweighless.com/
Go NAPSACC
https://gonapsacc.org/
Healthy Eating Research- Healthy Drinks Healthy Kids
https://healthydrinkshealthykids.org/
I Heart Water
https://iheartwaternc.com/
NC Cooperative Extension- Eat Smart, Move More, Take Control
https://richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/take-control-2/
North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC)
https://www.ncahec.net/about-nc-ahec/statewide-work
North Carolina Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP)
https://ncefnep.org/what-is-efnep/
UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
https://hpdp.unc.edu/research/cardiovascular-health-obesity-diabetes/
https://hpdp.unc.edu/research/nutrition-physical-activity/
North Carolina Council of Churches- Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) initiative
https://www.ncchurches.org/programs/phw/

What Works

  • Address targeted industry marketing to communities of color
  • Consider multidisciplinary approach to reducing SSB consumption that includes oral health
  • Create community coalitions to identify additional community strategies to reduce consumption
  • Launch public awareness campaigns
  • Limit sugary drinks through government and private sector procurement policies
  • Limit the default beverages served with kids meals to milk, 100% fruit juice, or water
  • Partner with schools and youth-oriented settings to remove or limit SSBs and their marketing
  • Promote healthy restaurant meals
  • Use SSB taxes and generated revenues to address equity issues
  • Work with clinicians, medical practices, and insurance providers to add SSB screening questions to the electronic health record
  • Work with retailers to improve offerings and create healthier store environments

Description of Indicator Data

Youth: NC Department of Public Instruction, Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Adult: NC State Center for Health Statistics, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Additional Data Needed at Local Level

  • School and Child Care Policies on SSB sales and consumption
  • Early Childhood Programs participating in NAPSACC
  • Water quality in community

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

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