Cherry Marris O. Dulay-Villa
Pediatric consultant
Title: Patterns of weekly consumption of sugar sweetened beverages among high school students in Makati City, Philippines
Biography
Biography: Cherry Marris O. Dulay-Villa
Abstract
Adolescence is a nutritionally susceptible period due to increased energy requirements. Increasing obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has been linked to excess caloric intake due to sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. The study determined patterns of weekly sugar consumption from SSB among Filipino adolescents in a highly urbanized school setting. 170 students aged 14 to 16 were surveyed and measured their SSB consumption using a daily beverage diary and 24 hour beverage recall, on two weekdays and one day during the weekend. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.9% and 11.2%. The most commonly consumed SSB types were iced tea (36.31%) on weekdays, and fruit juice (29.05%) on weekends. By volume, the most highly consumed per serving were sports drinks (median 600 ml) on weekdays and milk tea on weekends (median 480 ml). The most commonly consumed drinks was iced tea either alone or with friends, and chocolate drinks when with family. The average sugar consumed from SSB alone was 38.75 grams/day on weekdays and 36 grams/day on weekends. We found insufficient evidence to demonstrate a difference in the weekly average of sugar from SSBs in kcal between overweight and obese students compared to those with normal or low BMI (p = 0.3346). The adolescents’ daily average sugar intake from sugar sweetened beverages alone, notwithstanding diet, nearly exceeds the maximum daily recommended energy and nutrient intake from simple sugars.