High consumption of soft drinks and perceptions of consumption among university students: A multivariate analysis with a machine learning (ML) algorithm

Introduction: Soft drinks, defined as liquids with added sugar and artificial flavorings, have become increasingly popular among the people of Bangladesh, especially among the young. The everyday consumption of soft drinks by adolescents is a poor lifestyle decision that requires special attention to guarantee a healthy existence. Objective: The main objective of this study is to measure the soft drink consumption pattern and identify the perceptions associated with the consumption of soft drinks among university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample (n= 450) was conducted among the university students of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) using a self-administered questionnaire through a face-to-face interview method. The obtained information was analyzed in five distinct segments as univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, multivariate analysis, machine learning (ML) algorithm, and factor analysis. Result: A large number of students were high consumers, which means they consumed 1 or more liters of soft drinks per week. The perceptions were significantly associated with soft drink consumption level, and most of the perceptions had a significant effect on the consumption level. The performance accuracy was 82%, with sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 66%, and precision of 84%. Factor analysis showed that all of the perceptions were loaded into four factors. Conclusion: High soft drink intake among university students is correlated with other hazardous lifestyle choices. Students should be aware of the high consumption of soft drinks and should focus on healthy drinks. Government should take initiatives to improve the marketability of healthy drinks.