Association of sugar-sweetened beverage frequency with adiposity: Evidence from the “children of 1997" birth cohort

Ting Zhang, Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Man Ki Kwok, Lai Ling Hui, Gabriel Matthew Leung, C. Mary Schooling

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Observationally, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with adiposity inWestern children but could be confounded. We examined the association of SSB frequency with adiposity in the non-Western setting of Hong Kong. Methods: We examined the associations of SSB consumption frequency at 11 and 13 years assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire with subsequent body mass index (BMI) z-score and overweight/obesity up to 18 years using generalized estimating equations, and with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage at 16-19 years using linear regression in a population-representative Chinese birth cohort “Children of 1997" (n = 3628). Results: At 11 and 13 years, 6.8% and 8.2% of children respectively consumed SSB daily. Neither SSB frequency at 11 nor at 13 years was associated with subsequent BMI z-score or overweight/obesity up to 18 years, or with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or body fat percentage at 16-19 years adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic position, health status, physical activity and other food consumption, although bias to the null from under-reporting cannot be eliminated. Conclusion: Although we cannot definitively exclude a small association of SSB frequency with adiposity, lack of association of SSB frequency with adiposity in a non-Western setting with low SSB consumption suggests that the role of SSB in adiposity appears to be minor.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1015
JournalNutrients
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adiposity
  • Children
  • Sugar-sweetened beverages

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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