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Title: Beverage consumption in the diets of children is not consistently associated with weight: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2014

Author
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item O'NEIL, CAROL - Louisiana State University Agcenter
item FULGONI III, VICTOR - Nutrition Impact, Llc

Submitted to: International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2018
Publication Date: 5/30/2018
Citation: Nicklas, T.A., O'Neil, C.E., Fulgoni III, V.L. 2018. Beverage consumption in the diets of children is not consistently associated with weight: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2014. International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition. 7:47-62. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2018.07.02.2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2018.07.02.2

Interpretive Summary: Beverages are an important component of the American diet. Drinking water and other beverages provide over 80% of the daily intake of total water. The goal of this study was to examine whether there was significant risk associated with types of beverages consumed on the weight status in children. Data of 7,913 children 2-18 years of age who participated in the NHANES 2007-2014 was used. Beverages contributed 19% of total energy intake. Of this 19% of energy, major food sources were sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) (35%), milk and milk drinks (26%) and 100% fruit juice (FJ) (10%). The types of beverages contributed varying amounts of energy and nutrients in the diet. SSB contributed the most to energy intake but provided virtually no vitamins and minerals, unlike milk and milk drinks and 100% FJ. The likelihood of being overweight or obese was not consistently significant for any of the beverages studied between consumers and non-consumers. For the total sample, for every 29.6 mL of water consumed the risk of being obese was 1%. For ages 6-11 years water consumption increased the risk of being obese and in ages 2-5 years consumption of SSB increased the risk of being obese. The risk of being obese was significant for Hispanic males for every 29.6 mL of water consumed and for 100% FJ and SSB for other males; increased risk was < or = 3%. The risk of being obese increased for White females for every 29.6 mL of flavored milk consumed and water consumption for both Black females and Hispanic females; the significant increased risk of obesity was < or = 7%. Beverage consumption was not consistently associated with weight status in the diets of a nationally representative sample of children. In some cases the increased risk was very small.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine whether there was significant risk associated with types of beverages consumed on the weight status in children. Nationally representative cross-sectional sample. Demographic information was obtained from the NHANES interviews. Dietary intake data were obtained from Day 1, in-person 24-hour dietary recall interviews administered using an automated multiple-pass method. Height and weight were obtained according to NHANES Anthropometry Procedures Manual. Subjects were children 2-18 years of age. The likelihood of being overweight or obese was not significant for any of the beverages studied between consumers and non-consumers. For the total sample, for every 29.6 mL of water consumed the risk of being obese was 1%. For ages 6-11 years water consumption increased the risk of being obese and in ages 2-5 years, consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) increased the risk of being obese. The risk of being obese was significant p <0.05 for Hispanic males for every 29.6 mL of water consumed and for 100% fruit juice and SSB for other males; increased risk was < or = 3%. The risk of being obese increased for White females for every 29.6 mL of flavored milk consumed and water consumption for both Black females and Hispanic females; the significant p <0.05 increased risk of obesity was < or = 7%. Beverage consumption was not consistently associated with weight status in the diets of a nationally representative sample of children. In some cases the increased risk was very small.