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Sugar-added beverages and adolescent weight change
Catherine S Berkey1, Helaine R H Rockett, Alison E Field
1Channing Laboratory, Departmetn of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. catherine.berkey@channing.harvard.edu
Obesity Research
|May 29, 2004
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverage intake is linked to adolescent weight gain. This association may be due to added calories, as the link weakened when energy intake was considered.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising consumption of sugar-added beverages (SABs) correlates with the adolescent obesity epidemic.
- Understanding beverage intake's role in weight change is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) changes and consumption of SABs, milk, fruit juices, and diet soda in adolescents.
- To analyze the relationship between changes in beverage intake and subsequent BMI changes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of over 10,000 U.S. adolescents (ages 9-14).
- Annual food frequency questionnaires assessed beverage intake over two 1-year periods.
- Body mass index (BMI) changes were analyzed in relation to beverage consumption, with adjustments for total energy intake.
Main Results:
- SAB consumption was associated with modest BMI increases in adolescents.
- Increased SAB intake correlated with greater weight gain, particularly in boys.
- Adjusting for total energy intake significantly reduced the observed associations, suggesting a caloric contribution.
Conclusions:
- SABs may contribute to adolescent weight gain, primarily through their caloric content.
- Reducing SAB consumption could be a strategy to mitigate adolescent obesity.
- Further research should explore mechanisms beyond total energy intake.