Choosing sugary drinks for toddlers linked to risk of later life obesity

Study shows why we need to do a better job of instilling good dietary habits from the get-go.

A study that that linked the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in the first few years of childhood to poor diet patterns that increase the risk of obesity in later life, adds to the totality of evidence that eating habits when we are younger can have lasting effects. Published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the investigation tracked the influence of diet on 14,000 British children from birth to adulthood and is believed to be one the longest of its kind ever reported. Children who drank sugar-sweetened sodas or fruit drinks before the age of two gained more weight when they were 24 years old, compared to those who did not consume the drinks. (Girls who had pure fruit juice during childhood gained less weight, while the weight of boys remained the same.) At three years of age, toddlers who drank cola also consumed more calories, fat, protein and sugar, but less fiber. In contrast, those given pure apple juice at the same age ate less fat and sugar, but higher amounts of fiber.

Importantly, the study also highlighted corresponding differences in food choices. Children who consumed pure apple juice often followed a diet containing more fish, fruit, green vegetables, and salad, whereas those drinking sugary sodas ate more burgers, sausages, pizza, french fries, meat, chocolate and sweets. This suggests that dietary causes of adult obesity may begin in early childhood, and that if we are to better control this problem more attention needs to be given to diet in the early years of life.