Public Health: Analysis of Sugar Sweetened Beverages Consumption

This assignment analyzes the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among children, drawing from both qualitative and quantitative research. The assignment begins by defining key terms and outlining the methodology of a national health survey, including its limitations. It then delves into the consumption patterns across different age groups, highlighting trends and variations, particularly the influence of age and gender. The analysis further examines factors affecting children's beverage choices, such as taste, parental control, accessibility, and advertising, concluding that lack of awareness isn't a primary driver. Finally, it explores the role of parental influence and suggests practical interventions like parental modeling and education to promote healthier beverage behaviors. The assignment concludes by outlining a quantitative research hypothesis and providing relevant references.

Question one:
i. The sample of approximately represented 21,300 people from 16,400 private
dwellings across Australia.
Two groups that were excluded from this survey include;
a. People from very remote areas of Australia.
b. Non-private dwellings such as hotels.
ii. Data was collected for under 15-year-old children by involving proxies. A proxy
refers to a person who answers survey questions on behalf of others.
iii. A limitation for the use of the method of data collection in (ii) above is that the
respondent providing responses on behalf of another may provide wrong information
regarding the subject under study.
iv. According to the National Health Survey Sugar Sweetened drinks are defined as soft
drinks, cordials, sports drinks or caffeinated energy drinks. Sugar sweetened drinks
may include soft drinks in ready to drink alcoholic beverages.
v. The definition of sugar sweetened drinks excludes fruit juice, flavored milk, 'sugar
free' drinks, or coffee/hot tea. This may give rise to bias in the study of drinks that are
thought to cause obesity.
Question two:
i. The highest proportion of children between 14-17 years, representing 42.5 % do not
consume sugar sweetened beverages. The second highest proportion of children,
representing 38.3 % consume sugar sweetened beverages 1-3 times a week. The third
highest proportion of children who represented 12.4 % consume sugar sweetened

beverages on daily. The lowest proportion of children representing 7.3% consume
sugar sweetened beverages 4-6 times a week (Austratlian Bureau of Statistics, 2018).
ii. There exists a linear trend between age and the consumption of sugar sweetened
beverages on daily basis. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages on daily basis
increases with increase in age. The percentage increases from 4.1 % for the age group
2-3 years to 12.4% for the age group 14-17 years.
iii. This change is primarily accounted by females. This is because as females advance in
age, they tend to become more attracted to sugary foods.
iv. The highest proportion of children who take sugary meals lie in the age bracket 14-17
years. This age bracket should therefore be highly educated on the significance of too
much sugar in causing obesity, more so females that lie in this age bracket.
Question three
i. This is a qualitative research study. The study tries to investigate perceptions (which
are qualitative) of children of sugar sweetened beverages. This characteristic makes
this a qualitative study (Lewis, 2015).
ii. Lack of awareness was not a main factor in the overconsumption of sugar sweetened
beverages. Results of the study, however, suggest that the dominant factors that
influenced children's beverage choices and consumption patterns included taste,
parental control practices, accessibility, and advertising.
iii. Four factors that influence children’s consumption of sugar sweetened beverages are;
taste, parental control practices, accessibility, and advertising.
iv. It is important to include the conflict of interest information as it helps in eliminating
bias from future studies.

Question four
i. This is a quantitative study. The study examined association between variables. This
characteristic justifies that this is a quantitative study (Pham-The, 2017).
ii. The findings of this study do not support the suggestion that the main factor
impacting on children’s and adolescents’ sugar sweetened beverage consumption is a
lack of knowledge. This is because the author argues that knowledge of Sugar
sweetened beverage-related health conditions alone may not influence adolescent
Sugar sweetened beverage behavior.
iii. The common theme of this and the previous study is that lack of awareness is not one
of the main factors that affects sugar sweetened beverage behavior.
iv. a. Parents should practice a healthy sugar sweetened beverage behavior as they are
role models to their children.
b. Parents should educate their children on the importance of healthy sugar
sweetened beverage behaviors.
Question five
i. Quantitative research hypothesis;
Parental influence has an impact on children and adolescents’ sugar sweetened beverage
behavior. The variables are quantitative in nature and would be measured using a scale
measure.
ii. An article on the quantitative hypothesis chosen;
Zahid, A., 2018. Beverage Intake among Children: Associations with Parent and Home-Related
Factors. International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), p. 929.

References
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design. Health Promotion Practice, 16(4), p. 42.
Pham-The, 2017. Quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis. 28(3), p. 12.
Statistics, A. B. o., 2018. National Health Survey, First results, 2017–18. 4364(001).
Zahid, A., 2018. Beverage Intake among Children: Associations with Parent and Home-Related Factors.
International jurnal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), p. 929.