Correlation between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and obesity among adults in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, obesity represents a major population health challenge, driven largely by unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence on the interactions between different categories of beverages and lifestyle and behavior factors that will determine the risk of obesity.

This study used secondary data from the 2021 Sharik Diet and Health National Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional phone survey in Saudi Arabia. A quota sampling approach stratified by age, sex, and region was applied. Data from 6,051 adults aged ≥18 years were analyzed, excluding participants without steady income or with extreme BMI values (<15 or ≥50 kg/m²). Weekly soft drink and energy drink consumption, sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity (WHO criteria), and BMI were assessed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify predictors of weekly beverage consumption, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Among the 6,051 participants, 38.1% were overweight and 8.3% were obese. The intake of soft drinks had a dose-response relationship with obesity with higher odds of obesity among the moderate and high consumers. It had a negative relationship with obesity with natural juice intake but no significant relationship was found with canned juices and energy drinks. The age range of 38 to 47 years showed the highest risk of obesity and males were less likely to be obese as compared to females.

Obesity in Saudi adults is positively related to the regular use of soft-drink, but it seems that the intake of natural juice is protective. These results justify the use of public-health programs to minimize the consumption of SSBs, encourage the use of healthier beverages and customize interventions that address obesity-prevention according to age and gender. Improved research in future should draw a clear line between 100 percent fruit juices and sugar-sweetened juice drinks.