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 EducationProgram (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