Sugary Drink Intake and Obesity Risk Amongst Canadian Youth Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Over 30% of Canadian youth experience overweight or obesity. Overweight or obese children are at greater risk of poorer mental health. They are also at risk of many chronic diseases like asthma, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases. Children are some of the highest consumers of sugary drinks. Sugary drinks are linked to increased body weight and many chronic diseases. Various Canadian campaigns have focused on sugary drink intake. However, Canadian youth were exposed to more digital advertisements during the COVID-19 pandemic. These advertisements can influence food choices such as sugary drink intake. This study will examine changes in sugary drink intake before and after the pandemic based on socio-economic position. It will also examine if an increase in sugary drink intake is related to obesity risk. We will use data from the 2019 and 2023 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY). The survey includes repeated participants, so we can examine changes over time. The survey measures sugary drink intake through six items. Examples of sugary drinks measured in the survey include soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, and 100% fruit juice. We will use regression analyses and mixed effects models to examine the data. This study is important because it analyses a large, nationally representative sample of participants. The results of this study could inform future policies and health promotion efforts.