Q&A: Can drinking tap water reduce how many calories children drink? – Penn State University

Report on the Intersection of Water Insecurity, Food Insecurity, and Child Health Outcomes

A Public Health Challenge Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) by children presents a significant public health challenge, contributing to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, thereby undermining progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). While public health campaigns have made initial strides, recent data indicates a plateau in reducing SSB consumption. New research suggests that addressing foundational insecurities related to water and food is critical to advancing this health objective. This report analyzes the relationship between water access, food security, and children’s dietary habits, framing the issue within the context of the SDGs.

Analysis of Water and Food Insecurity

Defining Water Insecurity and its Link to SDG 6

Water insecurity is defined as the inability to access clean, safe, and reliable water for health and hygiene. It is a direct challenge to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Key dimensions of water insecurity include:

• Availability: Whether people have a sufficient quantity of water.
• Accessibility: The absence of physical or economic barriers to obtaining water.
• Safety: Water that is free from chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants.
• Reliability: The stability and consistency of the water supply.

In the United States, water insecurity often manifests as the avoidance of tap water due to a lack of trust in its safety. Approximately 20% of Americans avoid their tap water, an action that serves as a proxy for perceived insecurity, even when piped water is physically available.

The Interconnection of SDG 2 and SDG 6

Food insecurity, the inability to access a sufficient and diverse diet for a healthy life, is the central concern of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Research demonstrates a strong co-occurrence of water and food insecurity. A lack of reliable, safe water for cooking and cleaning can exacerbate food insecurity, making it more difficult and expensive for households to prepare meals. This highlights the interdependent nature of the SDGs, where failure to achieve SDG 6 directly impedes progress on SDG 2.

Research Findings: The Impact of Insecurity on Children’s Health

Study Methodology and Cohort

A cross-sectional analysis of 18,251 children aged two to seventeen was conducted to examine the relationship between household security status and SSB consumption. Children were categorized into four groups:

1. Water and food secure
2. Water insecure and food secure
3. Water secure and food insecure
4. Both water and food insecure

Quantitative Impact on Caloric Intake

The study revealed that children experiencing any form of insecurity consumed a higher percentage of their daily calories from SSBs compared to their secure peers. The compounded effect of facing both insecurities was particularly significant.

• Children experiencing only water insecurity consumed 1.1% more kilocalories from SSBs.
• Children experiencing only food insecurity consumed 0.8% more kilocalories from SSBs.
• Children experiencing both water and food insecurity consumed 1.8% more kilocalories from SSBs.

An additional 1.8% of daily calories from SSBs can equate to approximately 1,080 extra kilocalories per month, contributing to weight gain and increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases. These findings underscore that addressing food and water insecurity is a direct pathway to improving child health outcomes and achieving the targets of SDG 3.

Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Development

Strengthening Water Infrastructure and Governance (SDG 6 & SDG 11)

The primary driver of tap water avoidance is mistrust, often stemming from concerns about contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and a general erosion of trust in regulatory institutions. To achieve SDG 6 and build Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), the following actions are necessary:

1. Enhance Transparency: Municipal water systems must provide simplified, easily understandable water-quality reports to the public.
2. Modernize Testing Standards: Regulations must evolve to include monitoring for emerging pollutants, with nationwide standards implemented consistently.
3. Invest in Trust: Rebuilding public trust in the institutions that regulate and supply water is paramount for promoting tap water consumption.
4. Ensure Equity: Providing support, such as certified water filters, to households without safe drinking water is a crucial step toward SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Promoting Responsible Consumption (SDG 12)

The alternative to tap water is often bottled water, which is less regulated, generates significant plastic waste, and is far more expensive. This consumption pattern runs counter to Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Promoting safe and trusted municipal tap water is not only a public health imperative but also an environmental and economic one that supports a more sustainable model of resource management.

Conclusion

Reducing children’s consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is inextricably linked to achieving fundamental Sustainable Development Goals. The research clearly indicates that progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) is dependent on ensuring universal access to safe water and nutritious food, as outlined in SDG 6 and SDG 2. Addressing the root causes of water and food insecurity through improved infrastructure, transparent governance, and equitable policies is a critical strategy for advancing public health and creating a more sustainable and equitable society for all.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article directly addresses food insecurity, defining it as “the inability to access and consume a sufficient and diverse diet for a healthy life.” It explores the co-occurrence of food and water insecurity and how this combination impacts children’s dietary choices, specifically their consumption of sugary drinks.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• This goal is central to the article, which begins by stating that sugar-sweetened beverages can lead to “obesity, cardiovascular disease, cavities, diabetes and other health problems.” The research aims to find ways to reduce the consumption of these drinks to improve children’s health outcomes.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The core theme of the article is water insecurity, defined as “the inability to access clean, safe and reliable water.” It discusses issues of water access, safety (freedom from chemicals and pollution), and reliability, highlighting that 20% of Americans avoid their tap water, which is used as a proxy for water insecurity.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article touches upon the infrastructure and services essential for sustainable communities. It discusses “municipal water systems,” the need for trustworthy institutions that supply water, and the goal of ensuring “everyone has trustworthy, clean water piped into their home,” which are all components of basic services in human settlements.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” The article’s focus on food insecurity and its impact on nutrition (leading to higher consumption of unhealthy sugary drinks) directly relates to this target of ensuring access to a healthy and sufficient diet.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment…” The article explicitly links the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. The research presented is a preventative public health measure aimed at reducing these health risks.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article’s entire premise revolves around this target. It discusses the lack of trust in tap water safety, the presence of pollutants like PFAS, and the ultimate goal of ensuring “universally available, safe tap water across the nation.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…” Safe, piped drinking water is a fundamental basic service. The article’s call to “support people who do not have safe drinking water in their homes” and improve “municipal water supplies” aligns with the goal of providing essential services to all residents.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 2 (Target 2.1)

• Prevalence of food insecurity: The study described in the article categorizes children into groups based on their food security status (“water and food secure,” “water insecure and food secure,” etc.). This categorization implies the use of a food insecurity scale, which is the basis for Indicator 2.1.2 (Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population).

Indicators for SDG 3 (Target 3.4)

• Consumption of calories from sugar-sweetened beverages: The study measures the percentage of kilocalories children consume from sugary drinks. For example, it found that children experiencing both food and water insecurity “consumed 1.8% more kilocalories from sugar-sweetened beverages.” This serves as a direct proxy indicator for dietary risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases.

Indicators for SDG 6 (Target 6.1)

• Proportion of the population avoiding tap water: The article states that “Around 20% of Americans — around 60 million people — avoid drinking their tap water.” This is used as a “useful proxy for water insecurity” and can serve as an indicator of public trust in the safety of drinking water, a key component of Indicator 6.1.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services).
• Proportion of the population without piped water: The article mentions that “just under 1% of Americans do not have piped water in their homes at all.” This is a direct measure of the lack of basic water access.

Indicators for SDG 11 (Target 11.1)

• Proportion of the population with access to piped water: The statistic that “just under 1% of Americans do not have piped water in their homes” directly measures access to a basic service, which is a component of assessing adequate housing and living conditions under Target 11.1.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: psu.edu