Thirsty? Choose Water! A regional perspective to promoting water consumption in secondary school students

Abstract

Adolescents are high consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), which contribute to overweight and obesity - a significant public health issue. Evidence suggests replacing SSBs with water and school-based interventions can reduce consumption. This study examines the acceptability of a previously trialled intervention (Thirsty? Choose Water!) in regional and remote secondary schools. An open-label randomised controlled trial using a two-by-two factorial design tested the outcomes of a behavioural and/or environmental intervention on SSB and water consumption. Regional and remote secondary schools (public, catholic and independent) within the boundaries of two regional Local Health Districts within New South Wales. Twenty-four schools participated in the study. The target group was year 7 students (n=1640) - 72% of eligible students completed baseline data. The study followed students into year 8 (n=1188) - 52% of eligible students completed post intervention data. Forty teachers undertook training to deliver the intervention. Interventions showed high levels of acceptability. Students demonstrated changes in knowledge, attitudes, and consumption behaviours. Multivariable ordinal logression analysis demonstrated all interventions increased the odds of students increasing their water consumption (though not statistically significant). Conversely, the combined (OR: 0.75; 95%CI: 0.59 - 0.97) or environmental intervention (OR: 0.68; 95%CI: 0.51 - 0.90) had greater odds of reducing SSB consumption and was statistically significant. This study builds on recent Australian evidence regarding the impact of school-based interventions on water and SSB consumption. In this study, despite a minor intervention change, and the impacts of fires, floods and COVID-19 on study implementation, the interventions were highly regarded by the school communities with positive outcomes.