Changes in Sugar Sweetened Beverage Intake Are Associated with Changes in Body Composition in Mexican Adolescents: Findings from the ELEMENT Cohort

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.

Investigating the Relationships between Taste Preferences and Beverage Intake in Preadolescents

“…Nevertheless, adolescents with overweight or obesity had a significantly higher consumption of free sugars from beverages and the percentage of total energy from sugars. These results are confirmed by several investigations showing sugary beverages are more likely to be associated with the development of overweight or obesity and negative changes in anthropometric parameters in children and adolescents [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…Numerous studies demonstrate clear associations between SSB consumption and a change in body weight measures [ 2 ]. Adolescents who increased their SSB intake showed more body fat and waist circumference after two years [ 3 ]. A study with over 2000 children aged 7 to 18 years showed that the consumption of more than 120 mL of SSBs per day is clearly associated with an increased BMI and an increased risk for abdominal obesity [ 4 ], which was similarly shown in cohort studies in children [ 5 ].…”

Association between Body Mass Index with Sugar-Sweetened and Dairy Beverages Consumption in Children from the Mexico–USA Border

“…In this sense, physical activity in elementary school does not correspond to the minimum recommendations for a healthy life, and additional strategies are required for the promotion and achievement of well-being [ 52 , 53 ]. Other limitations of the present study are related to the implemented questionnaire, which, even though it has been validated in different populations, has been shown to overestimate daily intake of beverage or foods due the self-reported bias and the lack of information obtained about the daily sugar intake from solid foods [ 8 ]. Finally, there is a limitation to determine causality between BMI and the factors evaluated due we have carried out only a cross-sectional study, but it is important to emphasize that this can be a starting point to design longitudinal studies focused on determining the causes and possible nutritional and physical activity programs as strategies that seek to reduce this health problem.…”

“…The dietary consumption of sugars in children and adolescents has dramatically exploded, particularly from sugar-bakery products, dairy products, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) [ 7 ]. These beverages have high glycemic and low satiety indexes, which causes a higher food consumption following their intake [ 8 ]. Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicates that SSB (e.g., juices and popular carbonated drinks) increase body mass index (BMI), causes gut dysbiosis, increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and, as a whole, a higher predisposition towards cardio-metabolic diseases in children and adults [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast foods deteriorates adolescents' mental health

“…Regarding physical health, frequent SSB and fast-food consumption was significantly associated with developing obesity and metabolic syndromes, such as type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia (9)(10)(11). In addition, SSB and fast-food consumption were associated with adolescents' poor mental health, including stress, depression, and suicidality (12)(13)(14)(15).…”