Evaluation of the Effects of Sugary Beverages on the Health of Adolescent Students in Guangxi Based on Health System Function Scores

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the health effects of sugary beverage consumption among adolescent students in Guangxi. Methods: In three cities of Guangxi (Nanning, Liuzhou, and Guilin), we investigated the consumption of sugary beverages by distributing a self-administered Functional Assessment Questionnaire of Life Health System and a Dietary Behavior Questionnaire (this paper analyzes only the part of sugary beverage consumption) to adolescent students in four schools, aiming to find out the general health status of the students and also to assess the effects of sugary beverages on the functional system health of adolescent students. Results: A total of 953 adolescent students between the ages of 14 and 24 were surveyed. Among them, 46.17% consumed sugary beverages once a week; 37.46% consumed them 2–3 times; 11.52% consumed them more than 3 times; and 4.83% consumed them every day. The mean score of Functional Assessment Questionnaire of Life Health System was 32. There was a positive correlation between the frequency of consumption of sugary beverages and the overall systemic function assessment score (P < 0.05), and the rank of the total score elevated by 0.314 times for each increase in the level of consumption. Compared to those who drink sugary beverages at least once a day, drinking them once a week showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between drinking 2–3 times a week and more than 3 times a week (P > 0.05). The correlation between consuming sugary beverages once a week and 2–3 times a week and endocrine system scores was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: More than half of the students in the surveyed areas consumed sugary beverages two or more times a week, and the higher the frequency of consumption, the higher the scores of systemic function assessment. Health education on sugar reduction among adolescents should be strengthened.