Children and teens who drink low calorie sweetened beverages do not save calories

WASHINGTON, DC (May 2, 2019) – American children and adolescents who consumed calorie-free or calorie-free beverages have consumed about 200 extra calories per day compared to those who drank water and consumed at home. about the same number According to a study published today, the number of calories consumed by young people who consumed sugary drinks is high.

"These findings challenge the utility of low-calorie or dietary sweet drinks in reducing calorie count and weight management," said Allison C. Sylvetsky, Ph.D., assistant professor of science and technology. 39, Exercise and Nutrition at George Washington University's Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) and lead author of the study. "Our findings suggest that water should be recommended as the best choice for children and adolescents."

An earlier study by Sylvetsky and colleagues found that children and teens frequently consume low-calorie sweeteners, not only in diet sodas, but also in a variety of low-calorie juices and sports drinks, as well as as food and snacks. The study of 2017 revealed that the consumption of low-calorie sweeteners had jumped 200% in children and adolescents from 1999 to 2012. Yet despite their growing popularity, researchers still do not know how these sweeteners affect the total energy intake or if they are useful. weight management as they are meant to be.

To find out more, Sylvetsky and her colleagues looked at food recalls collected from 7,026 children and teens enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Survey from 2011 to 2016. Children and adolescents reported what they were doing. They had eaten and drank for a period of 24 hours. The research team is focused on the reported consumption of sweetened beverages – those containing low calorie sweeteners and those containing sugar.

Children and teens who reported drinking low-calorie sweetened drinks, such as diet sodas, not only ingested extra calories compared to water consumers, but also absorbed more calories from added sugars in their diet. food and drink as water consumers. .

Among the other key findings of the study:

• After adjusting for body weight, the consumption of low-calorie sweetened beverages and sugary drinks as well as the combined consumption of the two were associated with a total caloric intake greater than 196, 312 and 450 compared to young people who ate mainly water.
• Consumers of sugary drinks and low-calorie sweetened drinks consumed an additional 15, 39 and 46 grams of added sugar, which corresponds to 60, 156 and 184 additional calories from added sugar – compared to water users.
• No difference in caloric intake has been observed between consumers of low calorie sweet drinks and sugary drinks.
• The highest caloric intakes were reported in children and adolescents who consumed low-calorie sweetened beverages and sugary drinks.

These findings are particularly important because in the United States, nearly one in three children is currently overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk for type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems. This study was not designed to demonstrate that drinking low or no calories leads to unhealthy weight gain. The results of the study suggest a link between the consumption of sweetened drinks (containing sugar and / or low calorie sweeteners) and higher intakes of calories and sugar.

Although the role of dietary drinks in weight management remains controversial, the experts provided some practical advice to parents and children. For example, a scientific advisory panel of the American Heart Association recently advised "against the prolonged consumption of low-calorie sweetened beverages by children".

Sylvetsky agrees with this conclusion. She says kids and teens, like people of all ages, should follow the federal government's guidelines for healthy eating, which prioritize water instead of soft drinks, alcohol and alcohol. plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

For a healthy alternative to sweet sodas or diet drinks, Sylvetsky suggests scented sparkling water with a touch of 100% fruit juice or water with a few pieces of mixed fruit.

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Watch Allison Sylvetsky discuss the results of her study here.

The study "The consumption of low-calorie sweetened beverages is associated with a higher total energy and sugar consumption in children, NHANES 2011-2016" was published on May 2 in the newspaper Pediatric obesity. The co-authors of the study include Jean Welsh and Janet Figueroa of Emory University and Susan Swithers of Purdue University. Talia Zimmerman, research assistant at George Washington University and undergraduate student at Georgetown University, also contributed to the study.

The research was funded by the Sumner M. Redstone Global Prevention and Wellness Center at the Milken Institute.