Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Consumption among Koreans: Differences across Age Groups and Beverage Types

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Dietary Assessment

Background:

• Beverage consumption is rising in Korea.
• Data on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), a risk for cardiometabolic diseases, are limited.
• Understanding SSB consumption patterns is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate SSB consumption by sex and age group in Koreans.
• To identify the types of SSBs consumed.
• To inform age-specific public health strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 17,084 participants (≥3 years) in the 2020-2022 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
• Assessed SSB intake using 24-hour dietary recall data (g/d and servings/d).
• Categorized SSBs into soft drinks, fruit drinks/juices, sweetened coffees, and other sweetened beverages.

Main Results:

• Mean daily SSB consumption was 96.5 g/d (0.9 servings/d) in the general population and 192.7 g/d (1.7 servings/d) among consumers.
• Adolescents and young adults exhibited higher SSB consumption than other age groups.
• Beverage preferences varied by age: fruit drinks/juices for children, soft drinks/other sweetened beverages for adolescents/young adults, and sweetened coffee for adults.

Conclusions:

• SSB consumption patterns differ significantly across age groups in Korea.
• Adolescents and young adults are key demographics for higher SSB intake.
• Tailored intervention strategies are necessary to mitigate health risks associated with SSB consumption.