The Association of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake During Infancy With Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake at 6 Years of Age

Abstract

Sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is associated with adverse health consequences including obesity and dental caries. Due to limited information on associations between SSB intake during infancy and intake of SSBs in childhood, we examined this question using longitudinal data for 1333 U.S. children from the 2005‐2007 Infant Feeding Practices Study II and the 2012 Follow‐up Study at 6 years of age. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for associations of SSB intake during infancy with consuming SSBs 蠅1 time/day at 6 years old after controlling for baseline characteristics. Based on maternal report, one‐fifth of children consumed SSBs at least 1 time/day at 6 years. The adjusted odds of consuming SSBs at 6 years 蠅1 time/day was significantly (p<0.05) higher among infants with any SSB intake during infancy vs. none (aOR=2.22), SSB introduction at <6 months (aOR=2.01) or 蠅6 months (aOR=2.33) vs. never, and mean SSB intake between 10 and 12 months of age (aOR=2.72 for 1‐<2 times/week, and 2.57 for 蠅3 times/week, vs. none). SSB intake during infancy significantly increased the likelihood of consuming SSBs 蠅1 time/day at 6 years of age. Our findings suggest that infancy may be an important time for mothers to establish healthy beverage practices for their children and these findings can be used to inform intervention efforts to reduce SSB intake among children.

Early development of dietary patterns: transitions in the contribution of food groups to total energy—Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study, 2008

“…Among younger children, 12-23 months old, sweets and sweetened beverages provided 10.4% of total daily energy, and although the food groups were slightly different, this is similar to the 10.2% daily energy from sweetened foods and beverages reported in NHANES for the same ages [20]. Early consumption of sugar sweetened beverages is problematic not only by displacing more energy dense foods [2], but also because early consumption of sugar sweetened beverages significantly increases the likelihood of consuming them later in childhood [12], along with higher odds of developing obesity [30]. High consumption of discretionary calorie foods contributes to two significant public health problems, overconsumption of energy as well as inadequate intake of healthy foods from the basic food groups, such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and their associated nutrients [2].…”

“…Early dietary habits are also associated with food preferences later in childhood [9][10][11]. This is true for fruits and vegetables [9][10][11] and also for less-healthy dietary components such as sugar-sweetened beverages and other sources of discretionary calories [10,12].…”

A Longitudinal Analysis of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake in Infancy and Obesity at 6 Years

“…This lack of a dose-response relationship among SSB consumers may be due to the relatively low levels of SSB consumption among infants. 38 using the same data source found that the odds of SSB intake at 6 years was more than twofold greater among children who consumed any SSBs during infancy versus non-SSB consumers. Our additional analysis that included SSB intake at 6 years in the current multivariable model found a weaker but significant association between any SSB intake during infancy and obesity at follow-up.…”

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Children's Health

“…SSB consumption differs significantly by age range. Multiple investigators have documented consumption beginning at young ages, including reports by Park that 25% of children studied consumed SSBs during infancy in a cohort of 1,189 US children (112), and these children had a higher likelihood of consuming SSBs at 6 years of age (115). In an analysis of NHANES data from 2007 to 2010, 62% of preschool children ages 2-5 years consumed SSBs daily compared with 73% of children ages 6-11 years and 76% of adolescents ages 12-19 years (15).…”