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01-09-2020 | Obesity | Original Contribution

Associations of sugar intake with anthropometrics in children from ages 2 until 8 years in the EU Childhood Obesity Project

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 6/2020

Abstract

Purpose

We determined the association of total sugar intake with body weight and fat mass in children on an energy-equivalent basis and potential changes in the association from 2 to 8 years of age.

Methods

Data were available from the Childhood Obesity Project Trial initiated in 2002. Sugar intake was measured by 3-day weighed food protocols at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 years of age. Body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were available at the same time points. To investigate the association of sugar intake with anthropometrics over time, linear mixed models were applied. Odds ratios for having a high BMI or FMI (above one standard deviation) were estimated by logistic random-effects models. To control for total energy intake, the residual method was chosen and models were additionally adjusted for total energy intake.

Results

Data were available for 809 children with in total 2846 observations. In an isocaloric model, an increase of 100 kcal from sugar per day was significantly associated with lower zBMI (− 0.033; 95% CI −0.061, − 0.005) and zFMI (− 0.050; 95% CI − 0.089, − 0.011). In addition, a 100 kcal higher sugar intake was related to lower odds of having a high zBMI (OR 0.743; 95% CI 0.611, 0.903).

Conclusion

This study provides no indication that increased total sugar intake positively affects BMI on an energy-equivalent basis. Whether the negative association of sugar is due to physiological effects or points more to macronutrient preferences or a reporting bias (lower sugar intake) in children with higher BMI can be debated.

Clinical trial registry

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00338689; Registered: June 19, 2006. URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00338689?term=NCT00338689&rank=1.

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Title: Associations of sugar intake with anthropometrics in children from ages 2 until 8 years in the EU Childhood Obesity Project
Publication date: 01-09-2020
Keywords: Obesity
Obesity
Overweight
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02107-0

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Associations of sugar intake with anthropometrics in children from ages 2 until 8 years in the EU Childhood Obesity Project

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Clinical trial registry

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