Soft Drink Consumption Linked to weight gain and Obesity among adolescents: JAMA

The most crucial finding, however, was the positive correlation between the prevalence of daily soft drink consumption and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. The researchers observed a clear link between the two, indicating that the regular intake of soft drinks contributes to the weight gain experienced by many adolescents worldwide.

Upon performing a pooled analysis using individual-level data, the researchers reaffirmed the association between soft drink consumption and overweight and obesity. The odds ratio of 1.14 indicated that school-going adolescents who consumed soft drinks daily were 14% more likely to be overweight or obese than those who did not partake in daily soft drink consumption.

The implications of this study are substantial, given the escalating global rates of childhood and adolescent obesity. The findings underscore the urgent need for public health interventions to tackle this growing concern. Reducing soft drink consumption should be prioritized as a key strategy in combating adolescent obesity.

Source:

Hu, H., Song, J., MacGregor, G. A., & He, F. J. (2023). Consumption of Soft Drinks and Overweight and Obesity Among Adolescents in 107 Countries and Regions. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 6, Issue 7, p. e2325158). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25158