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The number of kids and teens looking for diet sodas or low-calorie sweetened drinks is on the rise, but that does not mean that waist circumference is shrinking.
The number of kids and teens looking for diet sodas or low-calorie sweetened drinks is on the rise, but that does not mean that waist circumference is shrinking.
A new study published in the journal Pediatric Obesity found that young Americans consuming low-calorie or zero-calorie sweetened drinks absorbed about 200 extra calories per day and more calories from added sugars, compared to those who drank water.
"200 calories, that's a bit," said Allison Sylvetsky, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Nutrition at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the University. George Washington and senior author of the study.
"That's roughly equivalent to a candy bar, which is a much higher calorie intake."
What was more surprising for the researchers, however, was that the group that drank both low calorie and low calorie sweetened beverages and some sugar-sweetened beverages consumed more calories than the group that had just been drinking sweetened beverages.
"This group was actually less well off in terms of overall caloric and macronutrient consumption," said Sylvetsky, referring to the study that looked at data from 7,026 children and adolescents enrolled in the National Health Survey. and nutrition.
"So, the fact that dietary drinks contain little or no calories compared to sugary drinks does not necessarily mean that they are useful in reducing the total daily intake of calories and sugar."
In a previous study, Sylvetsky found that about 25% of American children consumed foods and beverages containing low-calorie sweeteners – a 200% increase from 1999 to 2012. His latest study, published on May 2, was aimed at Learn more about the role of these low-calorie or no-calorie sweetened beverages in weight management, given that obesity affects more than 18% of children and adolescents in the United States (about 13.7 million ).
The researchers found that dietary drink consumption did not translate into a low-calorie lifestyle.
"There is a perception that having soda for some people may look like water, and our results show that this is really not the case," said Sylvetsky.
It is not known whether low-calorie sweetened drinks favor sugar cravings or taste preferences. Sylvetsky said the theory had been issued and that there "exist biological mechanisms that could be at stake", but that further research is needed. She added that it was also important to know more about specific foods and food groups consuming the low-calorie sweetened beverages consumed to compensate for extra calories.
In the meantime, available research suggests parents encourage water, flavored water or water containing 100% mixed fruit juice.
"Really exposing kids to water, getting them to love water and getting used to water, rather than always turning to that sweet alternative that kids tend to like," he said. Sylvetsky.
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