Free Sugars and Source-Resolved Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Geographically Diverse Young Adults at an English University (2015–2016): Associations with Adiposity and Body Composition

Background/Objectives: Free sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) remain important public-health targets, yet source-specific exposure and its relationship with body composition are poorly characterised in young adults attending English universities.

Methods

This historical cross-sectional study examined 111 students aged 18–22 years at De Montfort University, Leicester, in 2015–2016. Dietary intake over approximately four weeks was assessed using an adapted EPIC-Norfolk food-frequency questionnaire processed in Nutritics. Free sugars were obtained from the native Nutritics variable, while strict SSB intake was reconstructed from 441 FoodName-level records, excluding diet/no-sugar beverages and 100% fruit/vegetable juice. Associations with BMI, body-fat percentage and BIA-derived visceral-fat index were estimated using HC3 robust multivariable models; adjusted inference included 109 participants.