Date: 2nd semester
Place: Online
Institution: UOC
Type: Product: Draft of the introduction of the first article: To estimate the consumption of
SSB above in adolescents from 12 to 18 years in Central Catalonia in the academic course
2021-2022, and analyze which demographic and socioeconomic factors are related to this
consumption.
Reflection on the learning and competencies:
Looking back on this activity, I’ve gained valuable skills in scientific writing and research.
Writing the introduction for my first article taught me how to analyze, evaluate, and
summarize information effectively. I’ve also learned to write with precision, simplicity,
fluency, and conciseness, which are crucial in scientific writing. However, I still struggle
with writing in English, which remains a challenge for me.

 

Product:

To estimate the consumption of SSB above in adolescents from 12 to 18 years in Central Catalonia in the academic course 2021-2022, and analyze which demographic and socioeconomic factors are related to this consumption.

 

Introduction:

 

Adolescence is a pivotal stage characterized by rapid physical and psychological transformations, where dietary habits established during this period often persist into adulthood (Moreno et al., 2014). The dietary behaviors of adolescents are of particular concern as they are prone to nutritional imbalances, potentially leading to various health issues later in life.

 

Moreno and colleagues (2014) highlight that adolescents frequently fall short of recommended dietary guidelines, consuming inadequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, while exceeding recommendations for meat, fats, and sweets. Notably, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), along with sweetened milk, low-fat milk, and fruit juice, contribute substantially to adolescents’ energy intake. This underscores the significance of investigating factors influencing SSB consumption among adolescents aged 12 to 18 years.

 

Recent research has shed light on determinants of SSB consumption among adolescents, highlighting socioeconomic and demographic factors as key influencers. Mantilla Caicedo et al. (2022) conducted a focused review, identifying low income, adolescence or young adulthood, male gender, and limited knowledge about the health implications of SSBs as primary determinants. Additionally, a study by Schröder et al. (2021) conducted among Spanish adolescents aged 13 to 18 years revealed associations between socioeconomic status and the consumption of regular soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks. Specifically, adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds exhibited higher SSB consumption rates, particularly among boys.

 

Moreover, contextual factors play a significant role in shaping adolescents’ beverage choices. Skeie et al. (2019) observed a positive association between media use and SSB consumption in developed countries. Furthermore, accessibility and availability of SSBs at home and school, as well as parental modeling of behavior, norms, and constraints, influence adolescents’ beverage preferences (Schneider et al., 2021).

 

Various interventions and policy measures have been proposed and implemented globally in response to the public health concerns associated with excessive SSB consumption. Levy et al. (2011) and Andreyeva et al. (2022) discuss the effectiveness of warning labels, school nutrition programs, and pricing policies such as SSB taxes in reducing consumption. Teng et al. (2019) provide evidence of the efficacy of SSB taxes in reducing purchases and overall dietary intake of sugary beverages.

 

Despite the progressive impact of SSB taxes in certain regions, such as Catalonia, where a significant reduction in consumption has been observed (Royo-Bordonada et al., 2022), there remains a notable gap in research concerning SSB consumption among adolescents in Catalonia. This information is crucial for understanding and addressing the factors influencing SSB consumption among adolescents in this region.

 

Therefore, this study aims to investigate the demographic and socioeconomic factors related to the consumption of SSB among adolescents aged 12 to 18 in central Catalonia based on the data from the surveys carried out in the Desk-Cohort study from the year 2021- 2022.

 

References

 

Andreyeva T, Marple K, Marinello S, Moore TE, Powell LM. Outcomes Following Taxation of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jun 1;5(6).

 

Levy DT, Friend KB, Wang YC. A review of the literature on policies directed at the youth consumption of sugar sweetened beverages. Advances in Nutrition. 2011 Mar;2(2).

 

Mantilla Caicedo, G. C., Robelto A, G. E., Olaya V, G., Fonseca N, M. F., Herrera, A. V., & Otálora B, M. C. (2022). Determinantes del consumo de bebidas azucaradas y estrategias de intervención relacionadas con su ingesta. Una revisión de enfoque. Universitas Médica, 63(1). https://doi.org/10.11144/JAVERIANA.UMED63-1.AZUC

 

Moreno, L. A., Gottrand, F., Huybrechts, I., Ruiz, J. R., González-Gross, M., De Henauw, S., Gilbert, C., Kafatos, A., Libersa, C., Sánchez, J., Kersting, M., Sjöstrom, M., Molnár, D., Hall, G., Maes, L., Scalfi, L., Meléndez, P., Fleta, J., Casajús, J. A., … Lorente, J. J. G. (2014). Nutrition and lifestyle in European adolescents: The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Advances in Nutrition, 5(5), 615S-623S. https://doi.org/10.3945/AN.113.005678

 

Royo-Bordonada MÁ, Fernández-Escobar C, Gil-Bellosta CJ, Ordaz E. Effect of excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Catalonia, Spain, three and a half years after its introduction. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Mar 12;19(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01262-8. PMID: 35279194; PMCID: PMC8917362.

 

Schneider S, Schilling L, Osenbrügge N. Determinants of soft drink consumption among children and adolescents in developed countries – a systematic review. Cent Eur J Public Health [Internet]. 2021 Dec 1 [cited 2023 Feb 16];29(4):290–300. Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/35026068

 

Schröder, H., Vanessa, C. M., Marta, U. R., Victoria, V. I., Josep-Maria, M. D., Gerard, R. B., Pere, T. M., & Monserrat, P. T. (2021). Determinants of the consumption of regular soda, sport, and energy beverages in Spanish adolescents. Nutrients, 13(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/NU13061858

 

Skeie G, Sandvær V, Grimnes G. Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages in adolescents from Troms, Norway—The Tromsø study: Fit futures. Nutrients. 2019;11(2).

 

  

Teng AM, Jones AC, Mizdrak A, Signal L, Genç M, Wilson N. Impact of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes on purchases and dietary intake: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews. 2019;20(9):1187–204.