Get the Facts: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Consumption
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet. Frequently drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis.1-4 Limiting sugary drink intake can help individuals maintain a healthy weight and have healthy dietary patterns.
What are sugar-sweetened beverages?
- Sugar-sweetened beverages are any liquids that are sweetened with various forms of added sugars like brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose.
- Examples of SSBs include, but are not limited to, regular soda (not sugar-free), fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and coffee and tea beverages with added sugars.
SSB consumption varies by age, sex, race/ethnicity, geography and socioeconomic status.
- In 2011-2014, 6 in 10 youth (63%) and 5 in 10 adults (49%) drank a sugar-sweetened beverage on a given day. On average, US youth consumed 143 calories from SSBs and US adults consumed 145 calories from SSBs on a given day.
- Among youth, SSB intake is higher among boys, adolescents, non-Hispanic Black youth, or youth in families with low incomes.
- Among adults, SSB intake is higher among males, young adults, non-Hispanic Black or Mexican American adults, or adults with low incomes.
The prevalence of Americans who drink sugary drinks at least once per day differs geographically.
- For example, 68% of adults living in the Northeast, 67% of adults living in the South, 61% of adults living in the West, and 59% of adults living in the Midwest reported drinking SSBs one or more times per day.
- About 31% of adults in nonmetropolitan counties and 25% of adults in metropolitan counties reported drinking SSBs one or more times per day.
- Americans drink 52% of SSB calories at home and 48% of SSB calories away from home.
SSB consumption is associated with less healthy behaviors.
Adults and adolescents who smoke, don’t get enough sleep, don’t exercise much, eat fast food often, and who do not eat fruit regularly are more likely to be frequent consumers of SSBs. Additionally, adolescents who frequently drink SSBs also have more screen time, including more time with televisions, cell phones, computers, and video games.
Prevalence of self-reported intake of SSBs at least once daily among US adults, 2010 and 201517
Nationally, 63% of adults aged 18 or older reported drinking sugar-sweetened beverages once daily or more. Sugary drinks include regular soda, sweetened fruit drinks, sports/energy drinks, and sweetened coffee/tea drinks. Data are from the National Health Interview Survey Cancer Control Supplement (NHIS CCS), 2010 and 2015.17 The map below shows combined 2010 and 2015 data.
