Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: Children's Perceptions, Factors of Influence, and Suggestions for Reducing Intake

Objectives: This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of children's perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Design: Nine focus groups were conducted in grade 5 and 6 elementary schoolchildren. Setting: Nine urban and rural elementary schools in London, Ontario, Canada. Participants: Fifty-one children, 58% of which were male, 52% of whom were in grade 5, and 84% of whom were Caucasian. Phenomenon of Interest: Children's views on sugar-sweetened beverages. Analysis: Three researchers conducted inductive content analysis on the data independently using the principles of the immersion-crystallization method. Results: Participants had a high level of awareness of beverages and their health effects, which was primarily targeted at the sugar content. Dominant factors that influenced children's beverage choices and consumption patterns included taste, parental control practices, accessibility, and advertising. Participants identified a wide array of strategies to reduce SSB consumption in children, including educational strategies for both children and parents and policy-level changes at both the government and school levels. Conclusions and Implications: Despite a high level of awareness of SSBs, children believed that further education and policies regarding SSBs were warranted. These data may prove helpful in designing effective interventions targeted at children and parents to reduce SSB consumption by children.