A recent study by the School of Psychology at Swansea University found that consuming sugar-sweetened drinks in early childhood is associated with unhealthy eating habits that can lead to an increased risk of obesity later in life.
Published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study followed 14,000 British children from birth to adulthood to examine the impact of diet. The findings suggest that the consumption of sugary drinks during the early years of life can contribute to poor diet patterns and ultimately raise the risk of obesity in the future.
The study conducted using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children found some significant results. It revealed that children who consumed fizzy drinks like cola or sugar-sweetened fruit cordials before the age of two tended to gain more weight by the time they reached 24 years old. Interestingly, girls who drank pure fruit juice gained less weight, whereas the weight of boys remained the same.
Furthermore, the study showed that toddlers who drank cola at the age of three consumed more calories, fat, protein, and sugar, but less fiber. On the other hand, those who were given pure apple juice consumed less fat and sugar, but had higher fiber intake.
These findings highlight significant impacts of early beverage consumption on weight gain and nutrient intake in children.The study highlighted the different food choices made by children who consumed pure apple juice compared to those who drank cola. Children who drank pure apple juice tended to eat more fish, fruit, green vegetables, and salad. On the other hand, those who consumed cola ate more burgers, sausages, pizza, french fries, meat, chocolate, and sweets.
The research team also found a connection between sugary drinks and social deprivation, finding that children from more affluent backgrounds were more likely to have access to pure fruit juice.
Professor David Benton, the lead researcher, emphasized the impact of early diet on lifelong food patterns and weight gain. The important goal is to ensure a healthy diet from the beginning.In order for a child to develop healthy eating habits, it is important to consume foods that are low in fat and sugar. However, fruit juice, which is considered one of your five daily servings, provides essential nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, folate, and plant polyphenols.”
Dr. Hayley Young further explained: “Obesity is a significant health issue that increases the risk of various other conditions. Our research indicates that the dietary factors contributing to adult obesity actually begin in early childhood. This suggests that in order to address this issue, more attention should be focused on the diet of young children.”
Journal Reference:
- David Benton, Hayley A. Young. Early exposure to sugar rnrnThe impact of sweetened drinks and fruit juice on adult body fat is examined in a study titled “sweetened beverages or fruit juice differentially influences adult adiposity” published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2024. The article can be accessed with the DOI link: 10.1038/s41430-024-01430-y.