Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and 100% fruit juice among infants and toddlers in Hispanic households is higher compared to others and exceeds experts’ recommendations. This pattern increases children’s risk for unhealthy weight gain, dental caries and other illnesses. Water is recommended as a healthier alternative to these beverages. However, studies show that many minority, low-income communities do not trust the safety of tap water and are more likely to purchase bottled water.Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure the effects of a home-based intervention designed to replace SSB with tap water and to reduce excess consumption of 100% fruit juice among parents and their infants and toddlers.Methods: A randomized controlled trial was employed to test the effects of the home-based intervention, Water Up!@Home. Study participants were enrolled in the Early Head Start Program in a predominately Hispanic community of Washington, D.C. Households randomized to the treatment group benefited from a 12-week home visit intervention designed to address barriers to replacing SSB and 100% fruit juice with tap water. They were also given a water filter pitcher along with instructions on the use and care of the filter, an infusion water bottle, and a child-size pitcher for serving water. Households in the comparison group received a water filter pitcher only. Outcome variables included anthropometric measures, attitudes/perceptions of parents, and beverage consumption of parents and children.Results: Intervention participants reported a significant reduction in 100% fruit juice intake versus comparison participants (parents: -3.6 fl oz/day vs -1.0 fl oz/day, P < .01; children: -.7 fl oz/day vs +.5 fl oz/day, P=.03). No significant group differences were noted for SSB or water intake. However, parents and children in both groups reported a significant decrease in SSB and an increase in water consumption (most filtered tap water) over the course of the study (P < .05). Milk consumption remained approximately the same.Study strengths and limitations: There continues to be a need for childhood obesity prevention programs that are both effective and sustainable. The results of this study provide evidence that the approaches used for Water Up!@Home, in addition to the provision of a water filter, may help to fill this gap. Further studies are needed to measure the effectiveness in other communities, and to determine the long-term impact using beverage assessment tools with known validity and reliability for infants and toddlers. Implications for your practice: Concerns about the safety of tap water, often among low-income minority communities, are well documented. Less is known about the extent to which these concerns contribute to higher intakes of SSB and 100% fruit juice. It may be of benefit to provide parents/guardians with information about the safety of the local water supply and explore their concerns about water quality when discussing healthy beverage options for infants/toddlers. Original citation: Reese AC, Burgos-Gil R, Cleary SD, Lora K, Rivera I, Gittelsohn J, Seper S, Monge-Rojas R and Colon-Ramos U., Use of a Water Filter at Home Reduces Sugary Drink Consumption among Parents and Infants/Toddlers in a Predominately Hispanic Community: Results from the Water Up!@Home Intervention Trial. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2023, 123(1): 41-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.06.006
