Changes in beverage intake between 1977 and 2001

Objective

To examine American beverage consumption trends and causes.

Methods

Nationally representative data from the 1977–1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, the 1989–1991 and 1994–1996 (also for children aged 2 to 9 years in 1998) Continuing Surveys of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII), and 1999–2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this study. The sample consisted of 73,345 individuals, aged ≥2 years. For each survey year, the percentage of total energy intake from meals and snacks was calculated separately for respondents aged 2 to 18 years, 19 to 39, 40 to 59, and ≥60. The percentage of energy intake by location (at home consumption or preparation, vending, store eaten out, restaurant/fast food, and school), as well as for specific beverages was computed separately for all age groups. The proportion consumed, mean portion size, and number of servings were calculated.

Results

For all age groups, sweetened beverage consumption increased and milk consumption decreased. Overall, energy intake from sweetened beverages increased 135% and was reduced by 38% from milk, with a 278 total calorie increase. These trends were associated with increased proportions of Americans consuming larger portions, more servings per day of sweetened beverage, and reductions in these same measures for milk.

Conclusions

There is little research that has focused on the beneficial impacts of reduced soft drink and fruit drink intake. This would seem to be one of the simpler ways to reduce obesity in the United States.

Introduction

Large increases in Americans' caloric intake have occurred in the past decade to match longer-term shifts in eating patterns.¹ Among increases of great concern have been the greater intake of sugar and other caloric sweeteners, the greater consumption of foods consumed away from the home, and the greater consumption of fast foods.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Although many have examined the shifts in Americans' diets, few have looked specifically at the changes in beverage consumption.5, 6, 7, 11 It is clear that there have been many dietary shifts, including more unhealthy fast foods.1, 8, 9 While many have focused on the increase in soft drinks, others have been equally concerned with the reduced milk consumption and reduced calcium intake of American children and adolescents.9, 10

This paper analyzes changes in beverage consumption as a percentage of total energy between 1977 and 2001. There are two well-known co-evolving trends: a decrease in milk consumption and an accompanying increase in sweetened beverages. It is presently unclear what is driving these changes. Meal or snack diets, or both, can change for home and away-from-home locations, such as vending, restaurant, and fast food locations. Furthermore, the per day shifts—represented by changes in the proportion of consumers of a product line, shifts in the portion sizes consumed, and even shifts in the number of eating occasions for the food group—can be seen. This paper goes beyond other beverage trend studies that focused on specific age groups, and did not examine the full range of possible changes, including number of servings and portion sizes. The analysis sample consisted of nationally representative Americans aged ≥2 years, with subgroupings of children (2 to 18 years), young adults (19 to 39 years), middle-aged adults (40 to 59 years), and older adults (≥60 years).