Child and Caregiver Attitudes about Sports Drinks and Weekly Sports Drink Intake among U.S. Youth

Abstract

Purpose. To examine caregiver and youth attitudes about sports drinks (SDs) and the association of those attitudes with youth SD intake. Design. Study design was cross-sectional. The online YouthStyles survey was sent to youth (ages 12–17 years) whose caregivers completed the online Summer ConsumerStyles survey for adults. Setting. The 2011 Styles survey data comprised the setting. Subjects. The sample was composed of 815 U.S. caregiver-youth dyads. Measures. The outcome variable is youth SD consumption, and exposure variables are youth and caregivers' attitudes that SDs are healthy for children, and caregivers' attitude that children need SDs for hydration. Covariates are youth demographic and physical activity variables. Analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for youth SD consumption one or more times per week after controlling for covariates. Results. About one in five youth consumed SDs one or more times per week. Caregiver attitudes about the healthfulness of SDs and children's need of SDs for hydration both significantly differed by race and caregiver education level. The odds of youth SD consumption one or more times per week were significantly higher among youth of caregivers who agreed that SDs are good, healthy drinks for children (OR, 2.72 vs. disagreed) and among youth of caregivers who agreed that children need SDs for hydration (OR, 3.15 vs. disagreed). Youth attitude about SD healthfulness was not associated with intake. Conclusion. Caregivers, particularly minority and less educated caregivers, may need more education about SD use.