While those sugary drinks are the main reason for the higher calorie tally, kids who drink sweetened drinks are also more likely to indulge in junk food, a new US study finds.
For the study, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers analyzed data from nearly 11,000 US children, aged two to 18, who were included in national surveys between 2003 and 2010.
Findings showed that sugar-sweetened beverages were the main cause of an increased calorie intake seen among children aged two to 11. Both food and sugar-sweetened beverages contributed to increased calorie intake among children aged 12 to 18, according to the report.
Findings appear online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
"Among all age groups analyzed, the energy density (calories per gram) of food consumed increased with higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake," says lead investigator Kevin Mathias.
"This is concerning because many foods that are associated with higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption — e.g., pizza, cakes, cookies, pies, fried potatoes, and sweets — are also top sources of solid fats and added sugars," he adds.