title: Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in 2- to 5-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption has been tightly linked to weight status among older children, the data regarding these relationships in children aged 2 to 5 years have been mixed. Our objective was to evaluate longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships between SSB consumption and weight status among children aged 2 to 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed SSB consumption and BMI z scores among 9600 children followed in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey--Birth Cohort, using linear and logistic regression and adjusting for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, mother's BMI, and television viewing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher rates of SSB consumption were associated with higher BMI z scores among children age 4 (P < .05) and 5 (P < .001) but not yet at 2 years. Children aged 5 years who drank SSB regularly (compared with infrequent/nondrinkers) had a higher odds ratio for being obese (1.43, confidence interval 1.10-1.85, P < .01). In prospective analysis, children drinking SSB at 2 years (compared with infrequent/nondrinkers) had a greater subsequent increase in BMI z score over the ensuing 2 years (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to what is seen among older children, children aged 2 to 5 years drinking SSB demonstrate both prospective and cross-sectional correlations with higher BMI z score. Pediatricians and parents should discourage SSB consumption to help avoid potential unhealthy weight gain in young children. From a public health standpoint, strong consideration should be made toward policy changes leading to decreases in SSB consumption among children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. deboer@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: DeBoer
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Demmer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose
keywords: obesity; preschool; sugar sweetened beverages; weight gain
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