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Obesity Discussion · 05-20-06, 01:34 AM

Effects of Decreasing Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption on Body Weight in Adolescents: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Cara B. Ebbeling, PhDa, Henry A. Feldman, PhDa,b, Stavroula K. Osganian, MD, ScDa,b, Virginia R. Chomitz, PhDc, Sheila J. Ellenbogen, MBAa and David S. Ludwig, MD, PhDa

a Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine
b Clinical Research Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
c Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts

OBJECTIVE. The role of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in promoting obesity is controversial. Observational data link SSB consumption with excessive weight gain; however, randomized, controlled trials are lacking and necessary to resolve the debate. We conducted a pilot study to examine the effect of decreasing SSB consumption on body weight.

METHODS. We randomly assigned 103 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years who regularly consumed SSBs to intervention and control groups. The intervention, 25 weeks in duration, relied largely on home deliveries of noncaloric beverages to displace SSBs and thereby decrease consumption. Change in SSB consumption was the main process measure, and change in body mass index (BMI) was the primary end point.

RESULTS. All of the randomly assigned subjects completed the study. Consumption of SSBs decreased by 82% in the intervention group and did not change in the control group. Change in BMI, adjusted for gender and age, was 0.07 ± 0.14 kg/m2 (mean ± SE) for the intervention group and 0.21 ± 0.15 kg/m2 for the control group. The net difference, –0.14 ± 0.21 kg/m2, was not significant overall. However, baseline BMI was a significant effect modifier. Among the subjects in the upper baseline-BMI tertile, BMI change differed significantly between the intervention (–0.63 ± 0.23 kg/m2) and control (+0.12 ± 0.26 kg/m2) groups, a net effect of –0.75 ± 0.34 kg/m2. The interaction between weight change and baseline BMI was not attributable to baseline consumption of SSBs.

CONCLUSIONS. A simple environmental intervention almost completely eliminated SSB consumption in a diverse group of adolescents. The beneficial effect on body weight of reducing SSB consumption increased with increasing baseline body weight, offering additional support for American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines to limit SSB consumption.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 3 March 2006, pp. 673-680 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-0983)

05-20-06, 01:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Obesity Discussion Administrator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,815 Weight Statistics 8/1/2006 Start Date: 185 lb Start Weight: 152 lb Current Weight: 155 lb Goal Weight: -33 lb Weight Loss: 5/1/2007 Goal Date:	Effects of Decreasing Sugar-Sweetened Drink Consumption on Body Weight in Kids Effects of Decreasing Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption on Body Weight in Adolescents: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study Cara B. Ebbeling, PhDa, Henry A. Feldman, PhDa,b, Stavroula K. Osganian, MD, ScDa,b, Virginia R. Chomitz, PhDc, Sheila J. Ellenbogen, MBAa and David S. Ludwig, MD, PhDa a Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine b Clinical Research Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts c Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts OBJECTIVE. The role of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in promoting obesity is controversial. Observational data link SSB consumption with excessive weight gain; however, randomized, controlled trials are lacking and necessary to resolve the debate. We conducted a pilot study to examine the effect of decreasing SSB consumption on body weight. METHODS. We randomly assigned 103 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years who regularly consumed SSBs to intervention and control groups. The intervention, 25 weeks in duration, relied largely on home deliveries of noncaloric beverages to displace SSBs and thereby decrease consumption. Change in SSB consumption was the main process measure, and change in body mass index (BMI) was the primary end point. RESULTS. All of the randomly assigned subjects completed the study. Consumption of SSBs decreased by 82% in the intervention group and did not change in the control group. Change in BMI, adjusted for gender and age, was 0.07 ± 0.14 kg/m2 (mean ± SE) for the intervention group and 0.21 ± 0.15 kg/m2 for the control group. The net difference, –0.14 ± 0.21 kg/m2, was not significant overall. However, baseline BMI was a significant effect modifier. Among the subjects in the upper baseline-BMI tertile, BMI change differed significantly between the intervention (–0.63 ± 0.23 kg/m2) and control (+0.12 ± 0.26 kg/m2) groups, a net effect of –0.75 ± 0.34 kg/m2. The interaction between weight change and baseline BMI was not attributable to baseline consumption of SSBs. CONCLUSIONS. A simple environmental intervention almost completely eliminated SSB consumption in a diverse group of adolescents. The beneficial effect on body weight of reducing SSB consumption increased with increasing baseline body weight, offering additional support for American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines to limit SSB consumption. PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 3 March 2006, pp. 673-680 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-0983) __________________