Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks is associated with obesity in children

This study was published in the Lancet 2001 Feb 17;357(9255):505-8

Study title and authors:
Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis.

Ludwig DS, Peterson KE, Gortmaker SL.
Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. david.ludwig@tch.harvard.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11229668?dopt=AbstractPlus

The study examined the relationship between the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and obesity. The study included 548 schoolchildren (average age 11.7 years) who were followed for 19 months.

The study found:
(a) For each additional serving of sugar-sweetened drink consumed, body mass index (BMI) increased by 0.24 kg/m2.
(b) For each additional serving of sugar-sweetened drink consumed, frequency of obesity increased by 60%.

The findings of the study reveal that consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks is associated with obesity in children.