Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Assessment in a Family Medicine Residency Clinic

Introduction: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a major source of added calories in the American diet, with significant adverse health outcomes. However, intake of SSBs is not commonly assessed in the clinical setting. In some populations with health disparities there is a higher consumption of caloric beverages, contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk. Family medicine residency clinics often provide services for the underserved population, and may encounter additional barriers in nutritional assessment. Methods: Our study, conducted at a residency clinic in Omaha, Nebraska, utilized the abbreviated Beverage Intake Questionnaire 15 (BEVQ-15). We surveyed 310 patients over a 3-month period. Results: Consumption of SSBs in our sample was significantly higher than that of the nonclinic population of Nebraska (P<0.001). Fifty-six percent of resident clinic respondents reportedly consumed at least one SSB daily, resulting in an average intake of 244 kilocalories. Intake was significantly higher in males, younger patients, those with lower socioeconomic status, and Latinos. While the majority of the study population was obese, there was no direct correlation between weight and SSB intake. The survey required less than 3 minutes to complete. Future interventions may focus on reduction of SSB intake and promotion of water consumption. Conclusions: Assessment of SSB intake in a family medicine residency clinic can be easily conducted, providing opportunities for clinical providers to suggest patient-specific modifiable behaviors. As the obesity epidemic continues to progress, point-of-care intervention to reduce SSB consumption may help reduce cardiometabolic risk and improve health outcomes.