Childhood Obesity
2012-2015
Opportunities to reduce children’s excessive consumption of calories from beverages
October 1, 2014
Rader RK, Mullen KB, Sterkel R, Strunk RC, Garbutt JM. Opportunities to reduce children’s excessive consumption of calories from beverages. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2014 Oct;53(11):1047-54. doi: 10.1177/0009922814540989. Epub 2014 Jul 2. PMID: 24990366; PMCID: PMC4157093.
Objective
To describe children’s consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and 100% fruit juice (FJ), and identify factors that may reduce excessive consumption.
Design
A total of 830 parents of young children completed a 36-item questionnaire at the pediatricians’ office.
Results
Children consumed soda (62.2%), other SSBs (61.6%), and FJ (88.2%): 26.9% exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended daily FJ intake. 157 (18.9%) children consumed excessive calories (>200 kcal/d) from beverages (median = 292.2 kcal/d, range 203.8-2177.0 kcal/d). Risk factors for excessive calorie consumption from beverages were exceeding recommendations for FJ (odds ratio [OR] = 119.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 52.2-274.7), being 7 to 12 years old (OR = 4.3, 95%CI = 1.9-9.9), and having Medicaid insurance (OR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.1-6.0). Parents would likely reduce beverage consumption if recommended by the physician (65.6%).
Conclusions
About 1 in 5 children consumes excessive calories from soda, other SSBs and FJ, with FJ the major contributor.