Researchers in Belgium studied what drinks children aged 8-11 years consume every day and found big differences based on their family’s income and education level. Kids from wealthier families drank more water, while kids from less wealthy families drank more sugary drinks. The study looked at nearly 2,500 children’s drinking habits over 4 days and discovered that children overall drink about 1.1 liters per day, with sugary beverages making up a big portion. These findings show that schools need to help disadvantaged children make healthier drink choices, since sugary drinks can lead to weight gain and tooth problems.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much water, sugary drinks, milk, and other beverages children drink every day, and whether children from different family backgrounds drink different amounts
  • Who participated: 2,427 children aged 8-11 years from 46 primary schools in Belgium who kept track of what they drank for 4 days and answered questions about their families
  • Key finding: Children from families with higher education levels drank significantly more water (about 200 ml more per day) and less sugary drinks compared to children from families with lower education levels. On average, kids drank about 345 ml of sugary beverages daily—roughly one can of soda
  • What it means for you: If you’re a parent or teacher, this research suggests that children from lower-income families may need extra support and education to drink healthier beverages. Schools could be a good place to help all children, especially those who don’t have as much access to healthy drink options at home

The Research Details

This study looked at information collected at the beginning of a larger research project called the DRINK trial. Researchers asked children to write down everything they drank for 4 days in spring 2021 and also asked their families questions about their background. The study included 46 different schools across Belgium to get a good mix of different types of communities and families.

The researchers used a special computer program called SPADE to adjust their numbers so they could better understand what children usually drink, not just what they happened to drink during those 4 days. This is important because what kids drink can change from day to day, so the researchers wanted to figure out their typical habits.

They then compared how much different groups of children drank—looking at differences between boys and girls, different neighborhoods, and families with different education levels. They used a method called bootstrapping to make sure their results were reliable and to show a range of numbers they could be confident about.

Understanding what children usually drink is important because drinks are a big source of calories and sugar in kids’ diets. By looking at baseline information before any changes were made, researchers can see what the real problem is. Finding that poorer families’ children drink more sugary beverages helps explain why health problems related to sugar are more common in these communities. This information helps schools and health programs know where to focus their efforts.

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of children (2,427) from many different schools, which makes the results more trustworthy. The researchers used a careful method to estimate usual drinking habits rather than just looking at 4 random days. However, the study was done during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it harder for some families to participate, and fewer families from Brussels took part compared to other areas. The study is a snapshot in time (cross-sectional), so it shows what happened in spring 2021 but doesn’t prove that family income causes different drinking habits—only that they’re connected.

What the Results Show

On average, the children in this study drank about 1,109 milliliters (about 37 ounces) of total beverages per day. Of this, about 677 ml was water, which is good. However, they also drank about 345 ml of sugary beverages daily—that’s roughly one 12-ounce can of soda per day for an average child.

The most important finding was that children from families where parents had higher education levels drank significantly more water and less sugary drinks compared to children from families where parents had lower education levels. For example, children from highly educated families drank about 200 ml more water per day than children from less educated families. This difference was the biggest gap the researchers found.

The study also found that children from wealthier areas drank more water and less sugary beverages than children from less wealthy areas. These patterns were consistent across different types of sugary drinks, including soda, juice drinks, and other sweetened beverages.

The researchers noted that while milk consumption also varied by family background, the differences weren’t as dramatic as the differences in water and sugary drink consumption.

The study found that participation in the research was challenging, with only about 67% of children who were invited actually completing the diary and questionnaire. Fewer families from Brussels (the capital city) participated compared to families from Wallonia (another region). This means the results might not perfectly represent all children in Belgium, though the researchers tried to include many different types of schools and neighborhoods. The study also showed that the DRINK trial successfully included a diverse range of schools and families, which is important for understanding whether the results apply to different groups of children.

Previous research has shown that sugary drink consumption is linked to weight gain and tooth decay in children, and that these problems are more common in lower-income families. This study confirms that pattern exists in Belgium and shows it’s connected to family education level. The finding that water consumption varies so much by family background is particularly important because it suggests that some families may not have easy access to water or may not prioritize it as a drink choice. This aligns with other research showing that health behaviors and food/drink choices are influenced by family background and resources.

This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, it only shows what happened in spring 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were dealing with lockdowns and disruptions, so results might be different in normal times. Second, the study only included children from Belgium who spoke French, so the results might not apply to other countries or languages. Third, not all invited children participated—only about two-thirds completed the study—and fewer families from Brussels took part, which could mean the results don’t perfectly represent all Belgian children. Fourth, children and families reported their own drink consumption, which might not be completely accurate. Finally, this is a snapshot study that shows differences between groups but doesn’t prove that family education causes different drinking habits—only that they’re connected.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, schools and health programs should focus on helping children from less wealthy families and those with lower-parental education drink more water and less sugary beverages. This could include providing free water bottles, making water more available at school, teaching children about healthy drinks, and involving families in these efforts. The evidence suggests this is important because the gap in drinking habits is significant and starts early in childhood. However, this is just one study, so these recommendations should be combined with other health advice from doctors and nutritionists.

Parents and teachers should care about this research, especially those working with children from lower-income families or communities. School administrators and public health officials should use this information to plan programs that help all children drink healthier beverages. Healthcare providers can use this to understand their patients’ backgrounds and offer appropriate advice. Children themselves might be interested in learning why some families have different drink habits. However, this research shouldn’t be used to blame families for their choices—instead, it should help communities understand where support is needed.

Changes in children’s drinking habits won’t happen overnight. Research on similar programs suggests that it typically takes 2-3 months to see small changes in what children drink, and 6-12 months to see bigger, lasting changes. The benefits of drinking more water and less sugary drinks—like better energy, healthier teeth, and healthier weight—can start appearing within weeks but are most noticeable over months and years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily beverage intake by recording the number of glasses or bottles of water, sugary drinks, milk, and other beverages consumed. Set a goal of increasing water intake by 100-200 ml per day and decreasing sugary beverages by the same amount. Use the app to log drinks at meals and snacks, and review weekly totals to see progress.
  • Start by replacing one sugary drink per day with water or unsweetened milk. Use the app to set reminders to drink water at specific times (like with meals or after school). Track when and where sugary drinks are consumed to identify patterns, then work on substituting healthier options in those situations. Celebrate small wins when water intake increases or sugary drink intake decreases.
  • Use the app to track beverage consumption weekly and compare to previous weeks to see trends. Set monthly goals for increasing water intake and decreasing sugary beverages. Share progress with family members or friends for accountability. Review the data every month to adjust goals and celebrate improvements. Consider tracking energy levels, thirst, and how you feel as you make changes to drinks.

This research describes patterns in what children drink and shows connections between family background and beverage choices. It does not provide medical advice or treatment recommendations for individual children. If you have concerns about your child’s diet or health, please consult with a pediatrician or registered dietitian. This study was conducted in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic and may not apply to all populations or time periods. The findings show associations between variables but do not prove that one causes the other. Always discuss any dietary changes with a healthcare provider, especially for children with specific health conditions.