Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with higher body mass index among Marshallese adults in Arkansas

ABSTRACT

This study documents sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among overweight and obese Marshallese adults and examines the association between SSB consumption and body mass index. Data from 378 participants enrolled in a Diabetes Prevention Program cluster-randomized controlled trial were analyzed. Associations were assessed using generalized estimating equations. More than half of participants reported consuming SSBs 1 or more times per day. Obese participants were twice as likely as overweight participants to consume SSBs 1 or more times per day (P= .005). These results will be immediately useful to researchers and practitioners working with the Marshallese community to improve nutrition and prevent diet-related chronic diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• sugar-sweetened beverages
• overweight
• obesity
• Marshallese
• Pacific Islanders
• type 2 diabetes
• Diabetes Prevention Program

Acknowledgments

This study was made possible because of the existing community-based participatory research partnership with local Marshallese faith-based leaders, the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, the Marshallese Education Initiative, and the Marshallese Consulate General in Springdale, Arkansas. Community engagement efforts were supported by UAMS Translational Research Institute funding awarded through the National Center for Research Resources and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (number 1U54TR001629-01A1). The Diabetes Prevention Program trial was supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) award (number AD-1603-34602). The content presented in this publication is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH or PCORI.

Declaration Of Interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award [AD-1603-34602] and UAMS Translational Research Institute funding awarded through the National Center for Research Resources and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [1U54TR001629-01A1].