Sugar-sweetened carbonated beverage consumption and childhood/adolescent obesity: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages (SSCB) and obesity in children and adolescents from Navarra (Spain).


METHODS
We used a matched case-control study design. The exposure, SSCB consumption (1 serving: 200 ml), was measured with a previously validated FFQ. Anthropometrical measures were taken using standardized protocols. The outcome, obesity, was defined as BMI above the age- and sex-specific 97th percentile according to the Spanish reference charts. In the analysis we used conditional logistic regression. Potential confounders were controlled using a multivariable model.


METHODS
Subjects were recruited in the paediatric departments of the Universidad de Navarra Clinic and the Navarra Hospital Complex, and in three primary health centres of Navarra. Controls were recruited when attending for a routine medical examination or vaccination.


METHODS
One hundred and seventy-four obese children and 174 individually sex- and age-matched controls, 52·87% boys, with a mean age of 11·6 years. Exclusion criteria were dietary interventions, exposure to hormone treatment, development of secondary obesity due to endocrinopathy and serious intercurrent illness.


RESULTS
Independently of other factors, high consumption of SSCB (>4 servings/week) was significantly associated with obesity (OR = 3·46; 95% CI 1·24, 9·62; P = 0·01). Besides, each additional daily serving of SSCB was associated with a 69% relative increase in the risk of obesity (OR = 1·69; 95% CI 1·04, 2·73; P = 0·03).


CONCLUSIONS
We found a strong and significant association between SSCB consumption and obesity risk. Our results suggest a monotonic dose-response linear shape for this association in children and adolescents (P for trend = 0·02).
1Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health,School of Medicine,University of Navarra,C/Irunlarrea 1,31008 Pamplona,Spain.
Nerea
N
Martin-Calvo
1Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health,School of Medicine,University of Navarra,C/Irunlarrea 1,31008 Pamplona,Spain.
Miguel-Angel
MA
Martínez-González
1Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health,School of Medicine,University of Navarra,C/Irunlarrea 1,31008 Pamplona,Spain.
Maira
M
Bes-Rastrollo
1Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health,School of Medicine,University of Navarra,C/Irunlarrea 1,31008 Pamplona,Spain.
Alfredo
A
Gea
3Centro de Investigación Medica Aplicada (CIMA),Pamplona,Spain.
Ma Carmen
MC
Ochoa
2Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn),Instituto de Salud Carlos III,Madrid,Spain.
Amelia
A
Marti
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008954:Models, Biological; D064427:Nutritive Sweeteners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D064427:Nutritive Sweeteners