Volume 196 - Issue 3
Soft drink consumption and obesity in NSW school students
Authors: Chris E Rissel, Tracie A Reinten-Reynolds, Li M Wen and Louise L Hardy
Med J Aust 2012; 196 (3): 171-172. || doi: 10.5694/mja11.10873
Published online: 20 February 2012
Published online: 20 February 2012
To the Editor: In 2007, the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks was banned in New South Wales government schools. The ban followed growing evidence linking soft drinks with obesity, and findings from the 2004 NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) that almost 60% of boys and around 40% of girls reported drinking a cup (250 mL) or more of soft drink per day....
To the Editor: In 2007, the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks was banned in New South Wales government schools.1 The ban followed growing evidence linking soft drinks with obesity, and findings from the 2004 NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) that almost 60% of boys and around 40% of girls reported drinking a cup (250 mL) or more of soft drink per day.2 Using the most recent SPANS data, collected in 2010, we explored whether soft drink consumption is associated with obesity among school students.3
SPANS is a representative cross-sectional survey of NSW school students from each education sector; its methodology has been described elsewhere.4 In 2010, 8058 students were surveyed (69% in government, 19% in Catholic and 12% in independent schools).
Students in Years 6, 8 and 10 and parents of students in Kindergarten and Years 2 and 4 (n = 7563) reported on students’ usual weekly consumption of cups of “soft drinks, cordials or sports drinks”. Separate questions were asked about diet soft drinks and fruit juice. Students’ height and weight were measured, body mass index (kg/m2) was calculated, and students were categorised as obese or not obese.5
The prevalence of obesity in 2010 was 5.8%, down from 6.2% in 2004. Soft drink consumption had decreased since 2004, with 15.6% of boys and 11.3% of girls drinking a cup or more per day in 2010. Multivariate logistic regression models showed a significant association between greater soft drink consumption and obesity (Box): students who consumed ≥ 2 cups/week were 1.3 times as likely as students who consumed < 2 cups/week to be obese (P = 0.027). This association was greater at higher levels of consumption (≥ 5 v < 5 cups/week), with students 1.4 times as likely to be obese after adjusting for several variables (P = 0.018).
We did not test the association between soft drink availability at school and obesity. However, we did find that, overall, 9.7% of students reported purchasing soft drinks at school (from canteens or vending machines). Although not directly assessed, student reports suggest that 15% of government schools and 30% of Catholic and independent schools have vending machines selling a range of products. Our findings indicate policies to ban soft drinks have been implemented in many but not all schools, and efforts to reduce their availability in schools must continue.
Associations between soft drink consumption and obesity in school students, New South Wales, 2010 (n = 7563)
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by NSW Health. Tracie Reinten-Reynolds was employed by the NSW Ministry of Health on the NSW Biostatistical Officer Training Program at the time this work was undertaken. We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the government, Catholic and independent education systems and the participating schools and students.
References
- New South Wales Department of Education and Training. Sugar sweetened drink ban for NSW schools. http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsweb/studentsupport/studentwellbeing/schoolcanteen/softdrink_flyer.pdf (accessed Jan 2012).
- Booth M, Okely AD, Denney-Wilson E, et al. NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2004: full report. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2006. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2006/spans_full.html (accessed Jan 2012).
- Hardy LL, King L, Espinel P, et al. NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2010: full report. Sydney, NSW Ministry of Health, 2011. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2011/spans_full.html (accessed Jan 2012).
- Hardy LL, King L, Espinel P, et al. Methods of the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2010 (SPANS 2010). J Sci Med Sport 2011; 14: 390-396. 0_i1142960
- Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ 2000; 320: 1240-1243. 0_i1142964