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Soft drink consumption and excess weight gain in Australian school students: results from the Nepean study

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 1091–1093 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

We studied the relation between soft drink/cordial (a sweet, flavoured, concentrated syrup that is mixed with water to taste), fruit juice/drink and milk consumption in mid-childhood, and body mass index (BMI) status in early adolescence in a contemporary Australian cohort. In 1996/7, 268 children (136 males) were recruited from western Sydney at baseline (mean±s.d.: 7.7±0.6 years), and at follow-up 5 years later (13.0±0.2 years). Height and weight were measured at both time periods and overweight and obesity defined using the International Obesity TaskForce criteria. Beverage consumption was calculated from a 3-day food record at baseline. Median carbohydrate intake from soft drink/cordial was 10 g higher (P=0.002) per day in children who were overweight/obese at follow-up compared to those who had an acceptable BMI at both baseline and follow-up. Intakes of soft drink/cordial in mid-childhood, but not fruit juice/fruit drink and milk, were associated with excess weight gain in early adolescence.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the families who generously donated their time to participate in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia

    C S Tam, S P Garnett, C T Cowell & G Cabrera

  2. Discipline of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia

    S P Garnett, C T Cowell & L A Baur

  3. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia

    K Campbell

Authors
  1. C S Tam
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  2. S P Garnett
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  3. C T Cowell
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  4. K Campbell
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  5. G Cabrera
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  6. L A Baur
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Correspondence to C S Tam.

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Tam, C., Garnett, S., Cowell, C. et al. Soft drink consumption and excess weight gain in Australian school students: results from the Nepean study. Int J Obes 30, 1091–1093 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803328

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803328

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