International journal of food sciences and nutrition
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Int J Food Sci Nutr · Sep 2007
Sugar intake, soft drink consumption and body weight among British children: further analysis of National Diet and Nutrition Survey data with adjustment for under-reporting and physical activity.
We investigated associations between body mass index (BMI) and intake of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) and caloric soft drinks using weighed 7-day food records, nutrient intakes, BMI measurements and 7-day physical activity (PA) diaries from the UK National Dietary and Nutritional Survey of Young People (n=1,294 aged 7-18 years). NMES and caloric soft drinks (excluding 100% fruit juice) were quantified by their contribution to energy intake. BMI z-scores were calculated from UK reference curves and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off values were used to define overweight. ⋯ Risk associated with caloric soft drinks appeared non-linear with an increase in odds only for very high consumers (top quintile, mean 870 kJ/day; OR=1.67, CI=1.04-2.66, P=0.03). These data are not consistent with any specific role for NMES or caloric soft drinks in obesity among British children and adolescents, but point instead to a general role of overeating and physical inactivity. Evidence of successful interventions is urgently needed but these must use reliable measurements of exposure (diet and PA) and outcome (BMI z-score, body fat, waist circumference) and have a sufficient timescale.