O acúçar que comes quando bebes: Impacto de uma estratégia de conscencialização

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most serious health problems worldwide. Finding solutions to the designated epidemic of the twenty-first century persists, and the relationship between the consumption of sweetened beverages and body weight became a relevant issue. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of an awareness strategy about the content of simple sugars present on a range of drinks available in the cafeteria. Methodology: The sales of a range of beverages were analyzed, before and after intervention. The intervention was based on the exposure of a framework with drinks and the representation of the amount of simple sugars, in sugar, under the motto: "The sugar that you eat when you drink". An analysis of proportion of sales, with a confidence interval of 95% was performed. Results: After statistical analysis of the ratios was observed a statiscally significant reduction in the number of units sold of soft drinks, coca-cola and carbonated drinks. In addition, there was an increase in the number of units sold, with statistical significance, of fruit nectars, tea/infusions and chocolate milk. Conclusions: The intervention in the cafeteria of the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Coimbra was successful with an effective reduction in sales of sweetened beverages.