Consumption of Sugared Beverages Linked to High Caloric Intake of Food in Children

A new study from the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) may be linked to a higher caloric intake, particularly among children who consume soda on a regular basis. In addition, SSB consumption has also been linked to an increased intake of unhealthy foods, according to recent findings published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Reports indicate that over the past 20 years, consumption of SSBs has been on the rise to not just include soda, but fruit drinks, sports drink and high energy drinks, as well.

Lead investigator Kevin Mathias of the Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discussed the primary goals of the study in relationship to the risen consumption, stating that it "were to determine the extent to which SSBs contribute to higher caloric intake of SSB consumers and to identify food and beverage groups from the overall diet that are associated with increased SSB consumption."

Pulling data from the 2003-2010 What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, investigators analyzed a sample of 10,955 children ages 2 to 18, and reported results for three separate age groups: 2-5, 6-11, and 12-18 year olds. Results showed that while intake of food increased, intake of non-sweetened beverages decreased with higher consumption of SSBs.

By examining both food and non-sweetened beverages, the authors were able to conclude that SSBs are primarily responsible for higher caloric intakes among 2-5 and 6-11 year olds. A similar fınding was observed among children aged 12 years; however, both food and SSBs contributed to higher caloric intakes of adolescents consuming greater than 500 kcal of SSBs.

Mr. Mathias stated that, "Among all age groups analyzed, the energy density (calories per gram) of food consumed increased with higher SSB intake." These findings suggest that higher consumption of SSBs is associated with consumption of foods with high caloric contents. "This is concerning because many foods that are associated with higher SSB consumption (e.g., pizza, cakes/cookies/pies, fried potatoes, and sweets) are also top sources of solid fats and added sugars; components of the diet that the 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommends Americans should limit."