Thirsty? Choose Water! Encouraging Secondary School Students to choose water over sugary drinks. A descriptive analysis of intervention components

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption contributes to this and adolescents are high consumers. This paper provides a descriptive overview of a school-based intervention to address this. METHODS: 61 secondary schools in New South Wales were randomised to receive a behavioural intervention (BI), a chilled water station (CWS), both interventions or neither (control). The BI was delivered through classroom lessons, school-based promotion and vaccination clinic. The CWS intervention included the installation of one CWS per school. Intervention effectiveness over time was assessed via student surveys at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up (individual-level outcomes), feedback from teachers and vaccination nurses, a school information survey, and remotely monitored CWS water usage (school-level outcomes). RESULTS: Teachers reported the BI was useful in teaching students about drinking water and negative consequences of SSBs. Nurses considered the post-vaccination waiting period a good opportunity to deliver health promotion messages. Students in this group showed statistically significant changes in knowledge about SSBs, dehydration effects and changes in daily SSB consumption (T1 23.18%; T3 18.20%). Positive feedback regarding CWSs was received with an increase in water consumption reported for students in this group (T1 86.15% to T3 89.66%) and a statistically significant increase in students carrying a water bottle to school and filling it observed. CONCLUSIONS: Both interventions were readily implemented with high levels of acceptability and impact on students' knowledge and SSB consumption. The study demonstrates how to promote water consumption in schools utilising two different interventions. SO WHAT?: Evidence regarding how to decrease SSB consumption amongst secondary school students has been strengthened.