Water and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and changes in BMI among Brazilian fourth graders after 1-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether drinking water per se is associated with drinking less of other beverages and whether changes in BMI are associated with the intake of water and other beverages.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of a randomized trial of fourth graders followed over 1 year.


METHODS
Public schools in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


METHODS
Participants were 1134 students aged 10-11 years.


RESULTS
At baseline, a higher frequency of water consumption was associated with a greater daily intake of fruit juice (P = 0.02) and a higher daily frequency of milk (P = 0.005). In the intervention group, the baseline frequency of water consumption was negatively associated with weight change over 1 year but without statistical significance (coefficient = -0.08 kg/m2; 95 % CI -0.37, 0.24 kg/m2), whereas fruit juice intake frequency was positively associated with weight change: each increase in fruit juice intake of 1 glass/d was associated with a BMI increase of 0.16 (95 % CI 0.02, 0.30) kg/m2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not support a protective effect of water consumption on BMI, but confirm consumption of juice drinks as a risk factor for BMI gain. Students who reported high water consumption also reported high intake of other beverages; therefore, the promotion of water consumption per se would not prevent excessive weight gain.
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Medicine, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, 7° andar, Bloco E, CEP 20550-012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. sichieri@ims.uerj.br
Rosely
R
Sichieri
Edna M
EM
Yokoo
Rosangela A
RA
Pereira
Glória V
GV
Veiga
D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004326:Drinking; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014867:Water; D015430:Weight Gain
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D014867:Water