Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Metabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Narrative Review

Nutrients. 2023 Jan 30;15(3):702. doi: 10.3390/nu15030702.

Abstract

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are major contributors of free sugars to the diet. A strong relationship between SSB intake and weight gain is described.

Methods: we performed a narrative review to present an overview of the role of SSBs as a pivotal contributor in the development of obesity and metabolism-related complications.

Results: different factors influence SSB consumption in children, including economic variables, individual attributes and behaviors to environmental factors, parent features and parents' behaviors. Data suggest that SSB intake has a negative effect on weight and obesity-related diseases. The leading mechanism linking SSB intake to the risk of gaining weight is decreased satiety and incomplete compensatory reduction in energy intake at meals following ingestion of liquid calories. Additionally, the effects of SSBs on gut microbiota and on eating behaviors were also reported. An association between SSB intake, weight gain and cardiometabolic risks is evident. Consumption of SSBs had a significant impact on the prevalence of obesity and related metabolic risks, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions: Limiting consumption of SSBs and increasing knowledge of the effect of SSBs on early metabolic and cardiovascular disorders will be useful in developing strategies to counteract the problem and to prevent obesity and related complications.Key future research areas for which further studies are needed include investigating the long-term effects of SSBs on health outcomes as well as analyzing the health effects of sugar consumed in solid compared to liquid forms and further elucidating the biological mechanisms of sugar addiction and energy compensation.

Keywords: adolescents; childhood obesity; children; metabolic syndrome; sugar-sweetened beverages.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Beverages / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Pediatric Obesity* / complications
  • Pediatric Obesity* / etiology
  • Sugar-Sweetened Beverages* / adverse effects
  • Sugars
  • Weight Gain

Substances

  • Sugars

Grants and funding

This project was funded under the National Recovery and resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.3—Call for proposals No. 341 of 15 March 2022 of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research funded by the European Union’s Next Generation EU. Project code PE00000003, Concession Decree No. 1550 of 11 October 2022, adopted by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, CUP D93C22000890001, project title “ON Foods—Research and innovation network for food and nutrition sustainability, safety and security—Working ON Foods”.