Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32912976›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2020

Using nutritional survey data to inform the design of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in low-resource contexts: a cross-sectional analysis based on data from an adult Caribbean population.

Miriam Alvarado, Rachel Harris, Angela Rose, Nigel Unwin, Ian Hambleton, Fumiaki Imamura, Jean Adams

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 33% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Miriam AlvaradoCentre for Diet and Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK mra47@cam.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0003-2864-9410
Rachel HarrisFaculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados.ORCID 0000-0002-5205-4989
Angela RoseGeorge Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Bridgetown, Barbados.ORCID 0000-0002-2493-8082
Nigel UnwinGlobal Diet and Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1368-1648
Ian HambletonGeorge Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Bridgetown, Barbados.ORCID 0000-0002-5638-9794
Fumiaki ImamuraMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6841-8396
Jean AdamsCentre for Diet and Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-5733-7830
University of Cambridge · GBUniversity of the West Indies · BBUniversity of Exeter · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_UU_00006/3Medical Research Council MC_UU_00006/7Medical Research Council MC_UU_12015/5Medical Research Council MR/K023187/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveSugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented widely. We aimed to use a pre-existing nutritional survey data to inform SSB tax design by assessing: (1) baseline consumption of SSBs and SSB-derived free sugars, (2) the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars that would be covered by a tax and (3) the extent to which a tax would differentiate between high-sugar SSBs and low-sugar SSBs. We evaluated these three considerations using pre-existing nutritional survey data in a developing economy setting.

methodsWe used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Barbados (2012-2013, prior to SSB tax implementation). Data were available on 334 adults (25-64 years) who completed two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. We estimated the prevalence of SSB consumption and its contribution to total energy intake, overall and stratified by taxable status. We assessed the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars subject to the tax and identified the consumption-weighted sugar concentration of SSBs, stratified by taxable status.

findingsAccounting for sampling probability, 88.8% of adults (95% CI 85.1 to 92.5) reported SSB consumption, with a geometric mean of 2.4 servings/day (±2 SD, 0.6, 9.2) among SSB consumers. Sixty percent (95% CI 54.6 to 65.4) of SSB-derived free sugars would be subject to the tax. The tax did not clearly differentiate between high-sugar beverages and low-sugar beverages.

conclusionGiven high SSB consumption, targeting SSBs was a sensible strategy in this setting. A substantial percentage of free sugars from SSBs were not covered by the tax, reducing possible health benefits. The considerations proposed here may help policymakers to design more effective SSB taxes.

Indexed as

Sugar-Sweetened BeveragesAdultBarbadosBeveragesCaribbean RegionCross-Sectional StudiesHumansNutrition SurveysTaxesepidemiologyhealth policynutritionpublic health

Identifiers

PMID32912976
PMCPMC7485232
OpenAlexW3086849387

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.