Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Overweight: An Unresolved Issue
Much controversy exists in today’s literature and the popular press related to the issues of sweetened beverage consumption and overweight. Dr. Theresa Nicklas, Professor of
Pediatrics at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, identified the issues in a recent seminar.
A review of the peer-reviewed literature finds eight articles that provide evidence for a relationship between sweetened beverage intake and increases in body mass index
(BMI) and weight. However, for the studies finding a relationship, Dr. Nicklas was able to provide a handful of studies suggesting there is no relation between sweetened beverage
intake and increases in BMI or weight. Based upon a review of the published data, Dr. Nicklas concludes, “The strongest evidence presented is the positive association between sweetened
beverage intake and total energy intake. The evidence regarding sweetened beverage consumption and overweight/obesity is not conclusive and warrants further investigation.”
Anyone attempting to understand the research on this controversial paradoxical topic should carefully review the strengths and weaknesses of the published research. Although it
is not possible to devise the perfect study, there are strengths and weakness to every study.
Studies ranked as strong tend to include:
- Large sample size representing different age groups
- Longitudinal design (i.e., following the same individuals over time)
- Control for age, race/ethnicity, family income, physical activity
- Participants weighed and measured consistently over time
- Physical activity monitored routinely
- Good statistical analysis of the data using BMI z scores
- More than one 24-hour dietary recall obtained by trained data collectors
Studies ranked as weak tend to include:
- Self-reporting (i.e. height, weight, physical activity)
- Small sample size
- Food records obtained from parents for their children
- Single day food and beverage intake
- Failure to control for physical activity
Dr. Nicklas concludes, “It is obvious that if we consume too much of any food or beverage beyond our calorie needs, we will gain weight. We don’t know all the answers yet, but this is a topic for well designed research studies.”
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