Correlates of regular soft drink consumption and its relation to weight status of children in eight European countries : the energy-project

Abstract

The purpose of this master thesis is to assess the potential direct association between the assessed correlates and weight status, to assess the consumption of soft drinks as a mediator of these relationships, of children across Europe and differences between European countries. The second research question is to assess potential socio-demographic differences and inequalities between countries, in the determinants and the relationship described above. Data from the ENERGY project was used. Descriptive analysis and one-way ANOVA were performed to calculate proportions classified as normal weight and overweigh, according to gender, ethnicity, parental education and country. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed with weight status as the dependent variable and correlates as predictors, adjusting for gender, socio-economic status (SES) and ethnicity, and performed separately for all countries, gender, SES and ethnicity. Four correlates were significant; attitude, parent modeling, preference/liking and home availability. The child’s own soft drink consumption did not mediate the four observed relationships between correlates and weight status. Parental educational level is associated with children’s the correlate health beliefs and preference/liking. Between countries, correlates such as parental subjective norm and home availability were significant in several countries. Socio-demographic differences were found in Greece and Slovenia, with boys being less likely to be overweight than girls adjusted for SES and ethnicity. Attitude, parent modeling, preference/liking and home availability were statistical significantly related to weight status, and these relationships were not mediated by soft drink consumption. We found socio-demographic differences and inequalities between countries, in the correlates, and the relationship described above. Keywords: Correlates, children, soft drink, weight status