HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/4/935    most recent ajcn.2009.27623v1 Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Fiorito, L. M Articles by Birch, L. L PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fiorito, L. M Articles by Birch, L. L Agricola Articles by Fiorito, L. M Articles by Birch, L. L

Beverage intake of girls at age 5 y predicts adiposity and weight status in childhood and adolescence^1,2,3

¹ From the Center for Childhood Obesity Research (LMF, MM, and LLB), the Department of Nutritional Sciences, (LMF and HS-W), the Department of Biobehavioral Health (LAF), and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the Graduate Program in Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (LLB).

² Supported in part by NIH grant no. RO1 HD32973 and no. M01 RR10732; by The National Dairy Council; by services provided by the General Clinical Research Center; and by the Diet Assessment Center of The Pennsylvania State University.

³ Address reprint requests to LL Birch, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 129 Noll Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802. E-mail: llb15{at}psu.edu. Address correspondence to LM Fiorito, Center for Childhood Obesity Research, 129 Noll Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. E-mail: lmf208{at}psu.edu.

Background: Increased consumption of sweetened beverage has been linked to higher energy intake and adiposity in childhood.

Objective: The objective was to assess whether beverage intake at age 5 y predicted energy intake, adiposity, and weight status across childhood and adolescence.

Design: Participants were part of a longitudinal study of non-Hispanic white girls and their parents (n = 170) who were assessed biennially from age 5 to 15 y. At each assessment, beverage intake (milk, fruit juice, and sweetened beverages) and energy intake were assessed by using three 24-h recalls. Percentage body fat and waist circumference were measured. Height and weight were measured and used to calculate body mass index. Multiple regression analyses were used to predict the girls’ adiposity. In addition, at age 5 y, girls were categorized as consuming <1, 1 and <2, or 2 servings of sweetened beverages. A mixed modeling approach was used to assess longitudinal differences and patterns of change in sweetened beverage and energy intake, adiposity, and weight status by frequency of sweetened beverage intake.

Results: Sweetened beverage intake at age 5 y, but not milk or fruit juice intake, was positively associated with adiposity from age 5 to 15 y. Greater consumption of sweetened beverages at age 5 y (2 servings/d) was associated with a higher percentage body fat, waist circumference, and weight status from age 5 to 15 y.

Conclusion: These findings provide new longitudinal evidence that early intake of sweetened beverages predicts adiposity and weight status across childhood and adolescence.