title: Sugar sweetened beverages and weight gain over 4 years in a Thai national cohort--a prospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) are implicated in the rising prevalence of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases worldwide. However, little is known about their contribution to weight gain in Asian populations. This study aimed to investigate weight change associated with SSB consumption between 2005 and 2009 in a large national cohort of Thai university students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire data were collected from a large Thai cohort (the Thai Health-Risk Transition: a National Cohort Study). The analysis was based on responses from 59 283 of the 60 569 (98%) cohort members who had valid SSB consumption and weight variables in 2005 and 2009. The relationship between SSB consumption in 2005 and self-reported weight change was analysed using multiple linear regression models controlled for socio-demographic, activity and (non-validated) dietary factors shown to influence weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher frequency of SSB consumption in 2005 was significantly associated with greater weight gain between 2005 and 2009 in all age groups and in both sexes (p<0.0001); persons who consumed SSBs at least once a day in 2005 gained 0.5 kg more than those who consumed SSBs less than once a month. The estimated weight gain for the average person in the sample was 1.9 kg (95% C I 1.95-1.96). The difference in weight gain between those who increased their consumption frequency (<once a month to > once per day) between 2005 and 2009 compared to those who maintained it was 0.3 kgs, while persons who reduced their consumption frequency (once a day to > once a month) gained 0.2 kgs less than those whose consumption remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSB consumption is independently associated with weight gain in the Thai population. Research and health promotion in Thailand and other economically transitioning countries should focus on reducing their contribution to population weight gain and to diet-related chronic diseases.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banwell
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Genetics and Population Health Division, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Sukhothai Thammithirat Open University, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sam-Ang
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Seubsman
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Vasoontara
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yiengprugsawan
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sleigh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents