Oral Presentation ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 2021

The association between knowledge of health effects and consumption of soft drinks among Australian adolescents (#69)

Caroline Miller 1 2 , Joanne Dono 2 3 , Maree Scully 4 , Belinda Morley 4 , Kerry Ettridge 2 3
  1. University of Adelaide's School of Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. Health Policy Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  3. School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  4. Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Vic, Australia

Background: Adolescents are among the highest consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages in Australia. Gaining insight into sugar-sweetened beverage knowledge and behaviour of these young consumers can assist policy makers in developing effective responses.

Methods: This study was conducted on a nationally representative sample (stratified two-stage probability design) of 9102 Australian secondary school students (12-17 years) surveyed in 2018 as part of the National Secondary Students’ Diet and Activity survey. We assessed knowledge of the nutritional contents of soft drinks (sugar, calories/kilojoules and exercise equivalents), knowledge of potential health consequences of soft drink consumption (in general, and as specific health effects), and actual consumption level.

Results: A high proportion of adolescents reported future health problems were likely with regular soft drink consumption (87%), and the individual health effects of tooth decay (76%), weight gain (72%), diabetes (73%) and heart disease (56%). Relatively lower proportions accurately reported the sugar content of a 600ml soft drink (22%), exercise equivalent for a 600ml soft drink (34%) and calories/kilojoules in a 600ml soft drink (3%). Bivariate analyses indicated demographic variation in one or more knowledge indicators according to sex, age and level of disadvantage (p<.001); with the general pattern of lower knowledge among males, younger adolescents and those from areas of greater disadvantage. Adjusted multilevel logistic regression analyses indicated those who perceived health effects were lower consumers of soft drink (p<.001), and those less knowledgeable regarding some of the assessed nutritional aspects of soft drink were higher consumers (p<.001).

Conclusions: Overall, results indicated that general awareness of the potential future health effects of soft drink consumption was much higher than the more specific knowledge indicators (nutritional contents), and that there were relationships between knowledge and consumption. The results of this study highlight potential areas for targeting public health interventions.