Abstract
Changes in consumption of sugar sweetened beverage (SSBs) have been associated with increased body mass index (BMI), but little work has evaluated the effect on waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage during adolescence, a period characterized by rapid growth and change in dietary behaviors. We examined the relationship of changes in SSB intake and changes in adiposity over two years in 464 Mexican adolescents. Food frequency questionnaires were used to sum intake of regular soda, coffee with sugar, tea with sugar, sweetened water with fruit, chocolate milk, corn atole, and a sweetened probiotic milk beverage. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of changes in SSBs with changes in BMI, body fat percentage, and WC, adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, screen time, physical activity, age, and change in age. Adolescents who increased their daily SSB intake by >2 serving had a −2.72% higher body fat percentage (95% CI: 0.61, 4.82); a 1–2 serving increase was associated with a 2.49 cm increase (95% CI: 0.21, 4.76) in WC compared with those with no change in intake. Within an adolescent sample, changes in SSB intake were related to concomitant changes in body fat percentage and WC, but not BMI.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilIn Mexico, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are the main source of added sugar intake among all age groups and make up a significant portion of total energy intake [1].Children and adolescents have the greatest intake of SSBs and added sugars in Mexico [1].In 2012, caloric beverages including unsweetened milk products accounted for 17.5% of total energy intake for children and adolescents ages 1 to 19, with flavored milk beverages, caloric soda, and high-fat milk being the top three contributors [2]
In the ELEMENT cohort, we previously showed that cumulative SSB intake from one to four years of age was associated with a nearly three-fold risk of central and abdominal obesity at 8–11 years [11]
This study showed that adolescents who increased their SSB intake had increases in body fat and waist circumference compared to those with no change in SSB
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilIn Mexico, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are the main source of added sugar intake among all age groups and make up a significant portion of total energy intake [1].Children and adolescents have the greatest intake of SSBs and added sugars in Mexico [1].In 2012, caloric beverages including unsweetened milk products accounted for 17.5% of total energy intake for children and adolescents ages 1 to 19, with flavored milk beverages, caloric soda, and high-fat milk being the top three contributors [2]. In Mexico, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are the main source of added sugar intake among all age groups and make up a significant portion of total energy intake [1]. Children and adolescents have the greatest intake of SSBs and added sugars in Mexico [1]. In 2012, caloric beverages including unsweetened milk products accounted for 17.5% of total energy intake for children and adolescents ages 1 to 19, with flavored milk beverages, caloric soda, and high-fat milk being the top three contributors [2]. SSB intake among adolescents in Mexico is thought to be high for several reasons, including mistrust of water safety, family members’ preferences for SSBs, low SSB prices, and availability of SSB products compared to unsweetened beverages [3–6]. Interventions to reduce SSB intake, among adolescents, included a national 10% sugar tax enacted in 2014. While preliminary research suggests reductions since this policy was enacted [7], information on changes in individuals’ SSB consumption is lacking
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