Determinants of energy drink consumption in adolescents: identification of sex-specific patterns.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate sex differences in sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates of frequent energy drink (ED) consumption in adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: This study was based on data collected among French-speaking Belgian adolescents aged 11-20 years (n = 8137) within the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. METHODS: Multiple logistic analyses stratified by sex were performed to estimate the associations between consuming EDs more than once a week, and various sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, 14.0% of boys and 7.6% of girls consumed ED more than once a week. For both genders, the likelihood of consuming ED more than once a week was higher among adolescents consuming soft drinks daily (vs. < daily), alcohol weekly (vs. < weekly), spending at least 5 h/day in front of screens (vs. < 5 h/day), and going to bed later than 11:30 PM (vs. ≤ 10:00 PM). Among boys, adolescents reporting at least 1 h of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily (vs. < 1 h/day MVPA) were more likely to consume ED more than once a week (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.01)). Among girls, adolescents from low affluence families (vs. high affluence) (aOR = 2.03 (95% CI 1.19-3.48)) and immigrants (vs. natives) (2nd generation: aOR = 1.75 (95% CI 1.31-2.32); 1st generation: aOR = 1.90 (95% CI 1.20-3.03)) were more likely to consume ED more than once a week. CONCLUSIONS: We identified different patterns of ED consumption in boys and girls. These results suggest that sex-tailored interventions could be relevant to reduce ED consumption in adolescents.

Immigration and adolescent health: the case of a multicultural population.

OBJECTIVES: Previous research indicates that the impact of immigration on health tends to be specific as it is influenced by many factors such as life stage and host country. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between immigration and adolescent health within the multicultural context of the Brussels-Capital Region in Belgium. STUDY DESIGN: The study was based on the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey. The sample consisted of 2962 adolescents from the fifth grade of primary to the last grade of secondary schools in Brussels. METHODS: Associations between health indicators and immigration status were analysed using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Natives, first-generation immigrants, second-generation immigrants with both parents born abroad and second-generation immigrants with one parent born abroad represented 19%, 23%, 36% and 22% of the respondents, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviours varied according to immigrant status. Young immigrants were more likely to present overweight (odds ratio [OR] first-generation immigrants vs. natives = 1.76 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.16-2.65]; OR second-generation immigrants with both parents born abroad vs. natives = 2.06 [95% CI = 1.41-3.02]; OR second-generation immigrants with one parent born abroad vs. natives = 1.69 [95% CI = 1.12-2.56]). This effect turned out to be partially explained by sociodemographic status and health-related behaviours. No association was detected between immigration and self-rated health and multiple recurrent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies in health behaviours and weight status were identified between adolescents of different immigration background, whereas this was not the case for well-being. Socio-economic status, cultural characteristics and specific behaviours partly explained these findings. Future research is needed to better understand immigration-related risk and protective factors, at individual and school levels.