Evaluation of Added Sugar and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption by University Students

Abstract

Today, increased intake of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages is seen as an important factor in the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, obesity-related diabetes, and coronary heart diseases. This study involved 214 Ankara University students from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, which was intended to evaluate the consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages. The frequency of student consumption of beverages and the quantities and amounts of sugar taken with beverages were questioned. The average total amount of sugar added to drinks by the students was 4.69 +/- 6.35 gram, while the average total amount of sugar taken with sugar-sweetened beverages was 11.34 +/- 15.32 gram. Female students relative to male students, students in grade 4 compared to grades 2 and 3, and students who had daily breakfast compared to those who did not had lower average sugar consumption (p-value < 0.05). As class grades increase, the amount of sugar added to beverages and fruit juice and sweetened soft drinks and carbonated beverages decreased (p-value < 0.05). The consumption of herbal teas and dietary beverages increased and the eating habits of students generally changed positively (p-value > 0.05). It is important to educate university students about the reduction in sugar intake and sugar-containing food in order to avoid many chronic diseases that may be seen in older ages.