Use of a Water Filter at Home Reduces Sugary Drink Consumption among Parents and Toddlers in Predominantly Hispanic Community: Results From the Water Up!@ Home Intervention Trial

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-14-2022

Journal

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

DOI

10.1016/j.jand.2022.06.006

Keywords

100% fruit juice; Latinos/Hispanics; intervention; sugar-sweetened beverages; tap water

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Water is recommended as an alternative for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Low-income, minority groups in the US continue to exhibit high SSB and low water consumption, and are more likely to exceed 100% fruit juice recommendation. OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of a home-based intervention designed to replace SSB with tap water and reduce excess juice consumption among parents and their infants/toddlers. DESIGN: Randomized Controlled Trial PARTICIPANTS: Parents (n=92) of infants/toddlers who participated in 3 Early Head Start (EHS) home-visiting programs that serve predominantly Hispanic, low-income communities 2019-2021. INTERVENTION: The 12-week intervention (Water Up!@Home) simultaneously addressed: a) physical barriers to tap water consumption (via a water filter); b) sociocultural barriers to replacing SSB and juice with water (via a curriculum). Comparison group received a water filter only. HYPOTHESIS: Intervention will lead to a reduction of 6 fl oz /day in SSB and juice consumption. MAIN OUTCOMES: Parent-reported self and infant/toddler SSB; water (filtered, tap, bottled); 100% fruit juice consumption. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: ANCOVA to compare changes in consumption between experimental groups; t-tests to assess changes within groups. RESULTS: Participants in both groups reported significant reductions in SSB from baseline (parents: intervention [-11.2 fl oz/day, p<0.01]; comparison [-8.0 fl oz/day, p<0.01]; children: intervention [-1.50 fl oz/day, p=0.03]; comparison [-1.56 fl oz/day, p=0.02]), increased water consumption (parents in both groups [+5.6 fl oz/day]; children: intervention [+3.61 fl oz/day, p=0.01], comparison [+2.24 fl oz/day, p=0.05]), mostly from filtered tap water. Differences between groups were not statistically significant. Intervention participants reported significant reductions in 100% fruit juice vs. comparison (parents: -3.6 fl oz/day vs. -1.0 fl oz/day, p<0.01; children: -0.73 fl oz/day vs. +0.48 fl oz/day, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The intervention effectively reduced 100% fruit juice consumption. Water security should be examined as a contributor to SSB consumption in this population.

Department

Epidemiology

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