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Published on: February 2, 2017
Longitudinal evaluation of 100% fruit juice consumption on BMI status in 2-5-year-old children
A Shefferly1, R J Scharf1, M D DeBoer1,2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Insights
Regular 100% fruit juice consumption at age 2 is linked to increased odds of becoming overweight by age 4. Parents and pediatricians should limit excessive juice intake to prevent unhealthy weight gain in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Growth and Development Studies
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant health concern influenced by lifestyle factors.
- Understanding the impact of dietary habits, such as fruit juice consumption, is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal relationship between 100% fruit juice intake and weight status in preschool children.
- To determine if early fruit juice consumption predicts later overweight and obesity in young children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (8950 children).
- Employed linear and logistic multivariable regression to analyze body mass index (BMI) z-score and overweight/obese status.
- Examined children's weight status at ages 2, 4, and 5 years in relation to their 100% fruit juice intake.
Main Results:
- Cross-sectional analyses at ages 4 and 5 showed no significant difference in overweight/obesity prevalence between consistent and inconsistent juice drinkers.
- Longitudinal analysis revealed that consistent 100% fruit juice drinkers at age 2 had greater increases in BMI z-score by age 4.
- Consistent juice drinkers at age 2 showed higher odds of becoming overweight by age 4 (aOR 1.30; CI 1.06-1.60), driven by changes in height and weight z-scores.
Conclusions:
- Consistent consumption of 100% fruit juice at age 2 is associated with an increased likelihood of becoming overweight by age 4.
- Discouraging excessive fruit juice intake in young children is recommended to mitigate unhealthy BMI gain.
- This finding highlights the importance of dietary guidance for pediatricians and parents in managing childhood weight.
Background:
Obesity in childhood is related to multiple lifestyle factors. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between consumption of 100% fruit juice and weight status over time among pre-school children.
Methods:
We used linear and logistic multivariable regression to evaluate body mass index (BMI) z-score and overweight/obese status as a function of 100% fruit juice intake for 8950 children examined at ages 2, 4 and 5 years as part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort, a representative sample of the United States.
Results:
Cross-sectional analysis at ages 4 and 5 years showed no difference in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between consistent juice drinkers and inconsistent/non-drinkers. Longitudinal analysis found that children who drank 100% juice consistently at age 2 years had greater increases in BMI z-score by age 4 years than infrequent/non-drinkers (P < 0.0001), a difference driven by lesser increases in height z-score (P = 0.0003) and slightly greater increases in weight z-score (P = 0.0550) among consistent juice drinkers over the 2 to 4 year time period. Additionally, consistent juice drinkers at age 2 had higher odds of becoming overweight by age 4 (adjusted odds ratio 1.30; CI 1.06-1.60). These differences in growth parameters were not noted between ages 4 and 5 years.
Conclusions:
Drinking 100% fruit juice regularly at age 2 is associated with higher odds of becoming overweight between 2 and 4 years. Paediatricians and parents can discourage excessive fruit juice consumption as part of a larger effort to avoid unhealthy gain in BMI in young children.
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