Associations Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes and Weight Outcomes Among US Adolescents.

Abstract

Given the recent implementation and preemption of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes across the United States, we aimed to evaluate the associations between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes and adolescent weight-related outcomes using data on 364,540 adolescents drawn from 1999 to 2021 district Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. We used difference-in-differences models to assess the associations and the potential mediating roles of SSBs, milk, and 100% fruit juice consumption. We found that a one cent per ounce increase in SSB taxes was associated with a 0.26 lower body mass index (P < .01), and a 2.19 (P < .01) and 1.68 (P < .01) percentage point decrease in the probability of being affected by overweight and obesity, respectively. SSB consumption had a mediating role, as tax increases were associated with a 2.45 (P < .01) percentage point decrease in adolescents' probability of drinking any SSB. Milk and 100% fruit juices likely also played a role, as we found changes in their consumption in response to tax increases.