The SODA study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The SODA study: Sugar sweetened beverage consumption of children and young people attending dental settings

• IRAS ID

  347059

• Contact name

  Samantha Watt

• Contact email

  samantha.watt@shefield.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Sheffield Teaching Hospital Foundation NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 3 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Sugar Sweetened Beverage (SSB) are drinks that contain added sugar, these drinks often have low nutritional quality and include carbonated (fizzy) and non-carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks and sports and energy drinks. A national survey found that children and young people (CYP) aged 11 to 18 were the highest consumers of SSBs. SSBs have been found to contribute 10 to 15% of CYPs total daily calorie intake and the main source of added sugar in their diet. Regularly drinking (daily or multiple times a week) SSBs increases an adolescent’s risk of tooth decay and dental erosion. Frequently drinking SSBs is also associated with type II diabetes and obesity.
  Research into CYPs consumption of SSBs, in particular sports and energy drinks, by dental teams was published in 2014. Since then, there has been limited research into adolescent’s use of SSBs. There have also been considerable changes to marketing and an increased role of social media in promoting SSB consumption. Therefore, this research aims to first hold interviews with CYP, aged 11-16, who attend dental appointments and their parents/carers to explore and investigate why CYP drink SSBs and what the role of the dental teams could have to tackle consumption. Members of the dental team will also be interviewed. The findings from the interviews will then be used to develop a survey which will be distributed to adolescents through dental settings. This will provide numerical data on the number of CYP who are consuming SSBs, reasons for consumption and further information on the potential role of the dental team in reducing SSB use. Following the interviews and survey of adolescents the next stage of the research will be to work with CYP to develop an intervention for dental teams aimed at reducing SSB use.

• REC name

  London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/LO/0797

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Oct 2024

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion