Updating trends in sweetened beverages consumption in Brazil from 2007 to 2021

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the time trend of sweetened beverages consumption among Brazilian adults in 26 capitals and the Federal District, from 2007 to 2021, with focus on the most recent period (2015 to 2021).

Methods: Data from the Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (Vigitel - Surveillance System of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey)were used to conduct a time-series analysis (n = 731,683). The prevalence of regular consumption (five or more days/week), average daily consumption (milliliters) and nonconsumption of sweetened beverages were analyzed. Prais-Winsten regression models were used to calculate temporal trends of the indicators for the complete set of the evaluated population and by sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age group, schooling and development level of the geographic region of residence).

Results: Between 2007 and 2021, a reduction in the prevalence of regular consumption (-1.23 pp/year) and daily average consumption (-8.62 milliliters/year) of sweetened beverages was observed. However, between 2015 and 2021, this downward trend did not continue. The prevalence of adults who reported not consuming sweetened beverages increased (1.14 pp/year, for 2007-21), although this trend was not significant in the most recent period.

Conclusions: The consumption of sweetened beverages among Brazilian adults decreased in the 15 years studied. However, this reduction was not observed more recently, suggesting that further actions must be adopted in the country so that the trend observed in the total period is maintained.