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Through a computer simulation based on data collected over several years from thousands of real children, researchers with NIH’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program found that limiting access to sugary drinks just in the home could reduce overall consumption of these beverages by as much as 87%.

Health experts have long recognized the need to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks among U.S. children. However, large-scale interventions have been costly and shown limited effects. ECHO researchers used computer modeling to simulate interventions and measure their impact on reducing consumption in different populations.

This study examined data from children ages 2 to 7 years in three ECHO research sites across the U.S. These children spent time in different environments as they grew—home, childcare, and school—where they had varying access to sugary beverages.

In the simulation, by limiting access to sugary drinks in the home, the researchers found that overall consumption of these drinks by a child could be reduced by as much as 87%. Reducing the availability of sugar-sweetened drinks at schools and childcare facilities also proved helpful in curbing consumption, but the overall decreases were lower than those that could be gained by reducing consumption in the home setting. The study revealed that the amount of reduction also varied among different groups of children simulated.

"These findings highlight the importance of tailoring interventions to reduce sugar-sweetened drink consumption based on the characteristics and needs of specific populations," said Matt Kasman, PhD, of Brookings Institution. "Using computer modeling, we can gain valuable insights to develop effective and targeted strategies."

In future studies, researchers plan to include older children and explore the consumption of other foods and beverages with health implications.

Dr. Kasman led this collaborative research published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

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About ECHO: Launched in 2016, the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is a research program in the Office of the Director at the NIH with the mission to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO investigators study the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development. For more information, visit echochildren.org.

About the NIH: NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information, visit www.nih.gov.