Impact of Reducing Sugar‐Sweetened Beverage Consumption on Total Calorie and Sugar Intake

Abstract

Background and ObjectiveWith increasing evidence of a positive association between sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and obesity, advising high consumers to reduce this consumption has become a leading prevention strategy. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact on total energy and sugar intake when habitual high consumers of SSBs reduce their intake.MethodsA 3‐month crossover study was done among 22 overweight males and females ages 16‐21 who consumed >3 servings of SSBs daily at baseline. Subjects were instructed to replace all sweet beverages (SSBs, diet drinks, juices) with study provided bottled water (3 daily) for month 1 and either 100% apple juice or coke (order randomized) for months 2 and 3, but to otherwise continue with their usual diet and activity. Three 24‐hour dietary recalls (2 weekday and 1 weekend) were completed by phone to assess dietary intake during each of the beverage conditions. Energy and sugar intake between beverage conditions was compared using paired t‐tests.ResultsMean total energy and sugar intake both decreased when baseline SSB intake was replaced with water, ‐337 kcal (p=0.008) and ‐64.3 g (p<0.001), respectively. When SSBs (caffeinated cola drink) were reintroduced total energy and added sugar both increased, +354 kcal (p=0.02), and +85.6 g (p<0.001), respectively compared to the water condition.ConclusionsThese results suggest that when SSBs are replaced with water, high consumers do not compensate by increasing consumption of other sources of sugars or energy. When sugar‐containing beverages replace water, both total sugar and total energy intake increase.