Consumption of sugar sweetened and other beverages among teens: Findings from telephone focus groups

Background: Over the past four decades, the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adolescents has more than tripled. One of the primary causes of overweight and obesity is poor diet, including both food and beverage consumption. Liquid calories have been highlighted as one potential area for intervention, as an estimated 10-15% of total calories consumed by children and adolescents come from sugar sweetened beverages and fruit juices.

Methodology: Data on teens' eating and physical activity behaviors were collected through telephone focus groups in 2008. Teens from across the U.S. were recruited to participate and groups were stratified based on gender, age, and locale type (urban, suburban, or rural). Efforts were made in recruitment to ensure some diversity in participants' annual household income. A total of 120 teens were recruited and 104 participated in the calls.

Findings: Preliminary results from the focus groups revealed differences in teens' beverage consumption patterns across gender and locale type. Energy drinks appeared more popular among males, while vitamin waters were more popular among females. Both genders expressed similar consumption patterns for soda and sweetened coffee/espresso drinks; however, the latter were mentioned less often in rural settings. Consumption of juice and water was mentioned by some participants, while milk was mentioned by few (outside of cereal). Some of the factors that appeared to influence teens' beverage choices included taste, price, convenience, nutritional content, and physiological effects.

Conclusion: Understanding the factors that influence teens' beverage choices will help practitioners develop effective obesity- and health-related interventions.