ABA criticises move to ‘discourage’ sugary drinks

A recent study has claimed doctors should ‘discourage’ parents from giving children aged two to five sugary drinks.

The study, which was published in the journal Pediatrics, reported that when social and environmental factors were taken into account drinking sugary soft drinks made kids fatter.

Its report, entitled Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Weight Gain in 2- to 5-Year-Old Children, claims children drinking soft drinks, “Demonstrated both prospective and cross-sectional correlations with higher BMI z score.”

As a result the report recommends paediatricians work to discourage parents from letting children in this age group consume sugary drinks.

However, the American Beverage Association claimed, “Overweight and obesity are caused by an imbalance between calories consumed from all foods and beverages (total diet) and calories burned (physical activity).

“Therefore, it is misleading to suggest that beverage consumption is uniquely responsible for weight gain among this group of children, especially at a time in their lives when they would normally gain weight and grow.”

The full study can be read by clicking here (subscription required).

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