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Obesity and sugar-sweetened beverages in African-American preschool children: a longitudinal study
Sungwoo Lim1, Jamie M Zoellner, Joyce M Lee
1Bureau of Epidemiology Services, Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, New York, USA. slim1@health.nyc.gov
Insights
High sugar-sweetened beverage intake in African-American preschoolers is linked to increased overweight and obesity risk. This study tracked children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern, particularly among low-income minority populations.
- Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are frequently consumed by young children and are suspected contributors to weight gain.
- Longitudinal data on SSB consumption and its impact on obesity incidence in preschool-aged African-American children is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (soda, fruit drinks) and the incidence of overweight and obesity.
- To examine this relationship in a longitudinal cohort of low-income, African-American preschool children.
- To identify potential dietary risk factors for obesity in this specific demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 365 African-American preschool children (aged 3-5 years) was recruited.
- Dietary intake, including SSB consumption, was assessed using the Block Kids Food Frequency Questionnaire at baseline.
- Children's height and weight were measured at baseline and after a 2-year follow-up to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores and determine overweight/obesity status.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of overweight increased from 12.9% to 18.7%, and obesity from 10.3% to 20.4% over 2 years.
- Baseline SSB intake was positively associated with baseline BMI z-scores.
- Higher baseline intake of fruit drinks and all SSBs significantly increased the odds of developing overweight over the 2-year period, even after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is significantly associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity in preschool-aged African-American children.
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring and reducing SSB intake in young children to prevent obesity.
- Public health interventions targeting dietary habits in early childhood are crucial for this population.
Abstract:
A representative sample of 365 low-income African-American preschool children aged 3-5 years was studied to determine the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (soda, fruit drinks, and both combined) and overweight and obesity. Children were examined at a dental clinic in 2002-2003 and again after 2 years. Dietary information was collected using the Block Kids Food Frequency Questionnaire. A BMI score was computed from recorded height and weight. Overweight and obesity were defined by national reference age-sex specific BMI: those with an age-sex specific BMI>or=85th, but <95th percentile as overweight and those with BMI>or=95th age-sex specific percentile as obese. The prevalence of overweight was 12.9% in baseline, and increased to 18.7% after 2 years. The prevalence of obesity increased from 10.3 to 20.4% during the same period. Baseline intake of soda and all sugar-sweetened beverages were positively associated with baseline BMI z-scores. After adjusting for covariates, additional intake of fruit drinks and all sugar-sweetened beverages at baseline showed significantly higher odds of incidence of overweight over 2 years. Among a longitudinal cohort of African-American preschool children, high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was significantly associated with an increased risk for obesity.
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