Increasing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption and associated health impacts warrant health-policy action. We assessed associations of socioeconomic and lifestyle variables with adolescents' consumption of regular soda (RSD), sport (SD), and energy (ED) drinks. Cross-sectional study of 3930 Spanish adolescents (2089 girls, 1841 boys) aged 13-18 years). We compared frequency of consuming each SSB type (European Food Safety Authority questionnaire) with sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (standardized questions). RSD, SD, and ED were consumed at least weekly by 72.7%, 32.3%, and 12.3% of participants, respectively, and more frequently (p < 0.001) by boys, compared to girls. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression showed inverse association between RSD, SD, and ED consumption and parental occupation-based socioeconomic status (p < 0.01). Daily smoking was associated (p < 0.001) with higher ED (OR 3.64, 95% CI 2.39-5.55) and RSD (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.56-2.97) consumptions. SD intake was associated inversely with smoking (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.89, p = 0.012) and directly with physical activity (OR 2.93, 95% CI 2.18-3.95, p < 0.001). School performance was lower among ED (OR 2.14, 95% CI, 1.37-3.35, p = 0.001) and RSD (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.24-2.64, p = 0.002) consumers, compared to SD. Maleness and low socioeconomic status predicted SSB consumption. Smoking and low school performance were associated with higher ED and RSD intakes.
Keywords: adolescents; carbonated drinks; cross-sectional studies; energy drinks; healthy behaviour; sweetened beverages.