Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis

Background The rising prevalence of obesity in children has been linked in part to the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks. Our aim was to examine t his relation. Methods We enrolled 548 ethnically diverse schoolchildren (age 11.7 years, SD 0.8) from public schools in four Massachusetts communities, and studied them prospectively for 19 months from October, 1995, to May. 1997. We exami ned the association between baseline and change in consumption of sugar-swe etened drinks (the independent variables), and difference in measures of ob esity, with linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for potentiall y confounding variables and clustering of results within schools. Findings For each additional serving of sugar-sweetened drink consumed, bot h body mass index (BMI) (mean 0.24 kg/m(2); 95% CI 0.10-0.39; p=0.03) and f requency of obesity (odds ratio 1.60; 95% CI 1.14-2.24; p=0.02) increased a fter adjustment for anthropometric, demographic, dietary. and lifestyle var iables. Baseline consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was also independent ly associated with change in BMI (mean 0.18 kg/m(2) for each daily serving; 95% CI 0.09-0.27; p=0.02). Interpretation Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks is associated with obe sity in children.