Understanding Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages by Adolescents

Objectives: This was a pilot study of the relationship of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, caries, and psychological problems in high-risk adolescents.
Methods: Subjects 13-18 years of age were recruited. They completed a survey designed by adapting validated instruments from food and addiction research that included an interview and written self-report. Questions measured indicators of addiction, perception of caries risk, liking of beverages, and quantity, frequency, variety, and context of use. They also completed the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Youth Self-Report (YSR). Subjects were grouped by sugar exposure and caries severity, and groups were compared using chi-square or ANOVA.
Results: 110 subjects completed surveys. Subjects in the highest sugar exposure group (independent of caries status) had significantly higher scores for the YSR scales and a higher percentage of subjects with scores in the borderline or clinical range for behavioral, emotional, and social problems. They were more likely to like SSB (p<0.01) and less likely to like water (p<0.04), were more likely to say it would be hard for them to reduce SSB consumption (p<0.04) and less likely to even try to cut down (p<0.02), and were more likely to drink SSB to reduce anxiety (p<0.01). Self-reported measures of SSB consumption only weakly predicted caries status. Subjects with caries were more aware of caries risk (p<0.04) and reported attempting to reduce SSB consumption (p<0.01), suggesting under-reporting in the caries group.
Conclusions: Adolescents with higher sugar exposure exhibited more addictive behavior and behavioral, emotional, and social problems. This is relevant to dental practice since preventive measures aimed at reducing sugar consumption may need to address these bigger issues.