Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Child Health: Implications for Policy

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Various policies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption in children have been implemented. Here, we review the evidence on whether these policies are effective in reducing SSB intake and whether a reduction in SSB intake results in a concomitant reduction in child obesity. We also highlight ethical concerns with such efforts.

Recent Findings

The evidence supporting relationship between SSB consumption and child body mass index (BMI) is consistently small and lacks causality. The effects of policies are unclear; taxation has no clear relationship to SSB purchasing, innovative marketing outlets make it difficult to examine the effects of restricting marketing on SSB consumption, and there is no evidence that reducing SSB availability in schools decreases consumption.

Summary

Research studies with rigorous and reproducible study designs are needed to examine whether reducing SSB consumption reduces child obesity, and to identify implementable policies that not only reduce SSB consumption but also child weight.

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