Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic in twelve Ibero-American countries: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) during confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its relationship with sociodemographic and dietary factors.

Material and Methods:

Multicenter study. Citizens residing in 12 countries were invited to participate (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, and Uruguay) to whom an online survey on food consumption and sociodemographic indicators was applied.

Results:

10,573 questionnaires were analyzed. Regarding the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, 78.0% of women had low consumption versus 69.2% of men. Frequency of SSB consumption was similar according to age group. For education, 13.4% of people with a university-level education reported excessive consumption versus 23.1% of people with a primary or basic education level (p<0.001). The frequency of SSB consumption was similar by urban versus rural residence. According to self-report, 19.0% of weight gain was due to excessive consumption of SSB compared to 10.4% of those who lost weight (p<0.001). Similar figures were found in self-reported portion size change, 19.3% who increased their portion consumed SSB in excess versus 10.0% who decreased portion size.

Finally, in a regression model:

being a man, being between 40 and 59 years old, primary academic level, weight gain, and presenting changes in diet, increased the probability of having a high level of SSB consumption.

Conclusion:

The consumption of SSB, in general, is low but excessively relevant in some groups of the study variables, in addition, there is a relationship between the consumption of SSB and the variables studied.