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Soft drink consumption and mental health problems among adults in Australia
Zumin Shi1, Anne W Taylor, Gary Wittert
1Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, PO Box 287, Rundle Mall, South Australia 5000, Australia. zumin.shi@health.sa.gov.au
Objective:
To examine the association between soft drink consumption and mental health problems, including self-reported doctor-diagnosed anxiety, stress-related problem and depression, suicidal ideation and psychological distress, among adults in South Australia.
Design:
Data were collected using a risk factor surveillance system. Each month a representative random sample of South Australians was selected from the Electronic White Pages with interviews conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing.
Setting:
South Australia.
Subjects:
Participants were aged 16 years and above.
Results:
Among 4741 participants, 12.5% reported daily soft drink consumption of more than half a litre. High levels of soft drink consumption were positively associated with depression, stress-related problem, suicidal ideation, psychological distress and a current mental health condition, but not anxiety. Overall, 24.0% of those having suicidal ideation reported consuming more than half a litre of soft drink per day. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, those who consumed more than half a litre of soft drink per day had approximately 60% greater risk of having depression, stress-related problem, suicidal ideation, psychological distress or a current mental health condition, compared with those not consuming soft drinks. The soft drink to total fluid consumption ratio had similar associations with mental health problems.
Conclusions:
There is a positive association between consumption of soft drinks and mental health problems among adults in South Australia.
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