Characteristics associated with household purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages in U.S. restaurants

OBJECTIVES: To describe beverages purchased in restaurants among a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. METHODS: Data were obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, 2012–2013. Survey-weighted multiple regressions assessed correlates of purchasing a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), low-calorie beverage, and per capita beverage calories and grams of sugar among purchases from U.S. restaurants (n=14,669). RESULTS: Dining at a top fast food chain (OR =1.9 [95% CI=1.6, 2.3] vs. small chain or independent restaurants) and ordering a combination meal (2.8 [1.3, 3.3]) or from the kids’ menu (2.1 [1.2, 3.4]) were positively associated with purchasing a SSB. Age (young adult and adolescent vs. older adult; 0.7 [0.5, 0.9] and 0.4 [0.3, 0.7], respectively), race (White vs. Black; 0.4 [0.3, 0.6]), ethnicity (Non-Hispanic vs. Hispanic; 0.8 [0.6, 0.9]), and household food security (high vs. very low; 0.7 [0.5, 0.8]) were associated with purchasing a low-calorie beverage. Caloric beverage purchases contained the most calories and grams of sugar per capita when purchased by Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: U.S. households purchase a considerable amount of SSBs from the nation’s largest chain restaurants, particularly when combination meals or kids’ menu items are ordered, and there are disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and household food security.