news features
Lack of exercise key to increased BMI in children
A new independent study of scientific research has revealed that, contrary to the widely held hypothesis, dietary sugars are not the driving factor behind rising body mass index (BMI) levels in children in Great Britain. The research paper, Trends in energy and sugar intakes and body mass index between 1983 and 1997 among children in Great Britain, which was conducted by independent consul- tant nutritionist Sigrid Gibson MA MSc RPHNutr, highlights that increased BMIs recorded in children are most likely due to reduced energy expenditure, rather than dietary factors, rein- forcing the link between obesity and lack of physical exercise. The paper directly compared findings from two separate studies: The Diets of British Schoolchildren conducted by the Department of health (DH) in 1983 (Department of Health 1989); and the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) from 1997 (Gregory & Lowe, 2000).
Gibson’s analysis found that total sugar intake averaged at 115g/day in 1983, compared with 113g/day in 1997. Allowing for exclusions of low and high energy reporters, intake levels were 122g/day (1983) and 127g/day (1997), showing a marginal and insignificant increase over the study period. Contrastingly, mean body weight increased signifi- cantly during the period of the DH and NDNS surveys, show- ing a rise of 1.9kg for 10-11 year olds and 3.4kg among 14-15 year olds. BMI increased from 17.9 to 18.6 units in the younger group and 20.2 to 21.3 units in the older group. According to these calculations, the prevalence of being overweight (plus obesity), as defined by the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) cut-offs (91st percentile) rose from 13 percent to 21-22 percent between surveys. Gibson concluded that the slight increase in consumption of total sugars did not account for the significant increase in BMI, equivalent to 2.0-3.0kg over the review period.
Changes in energy consumption
During the same period, Gibson found that mean energy intake (EI) was three percent lower in 1997 than in 1983, mainly as a result of lower fat intake. This change in overall energy consumption meant that sugars represented a higher proportion of daily energy intake in 1997 (23.6 percent versus 22.3 percent), despite total sugar consumption remaining relatively static in comparison. The review surmises that the most likely cause for the increased BMI is a decline in energy expenditure.
In addition, Gibson’s paper found that basal metabolic rate (BMR) increased by approximately three percent between surveys as a result of higher body weights and it is estimated that EI in relation to basal requirements was even lower at six percent. Gibson found that the paradox of rising BMI, despite a two to three percent rise in BMR and an EI that is static or falling, pointed to declining energy expenditure as an important factor in the change. The Gibson analysis showed that the key sources of sugars in the diet have changed with a marked shift away from table sugar and smaller falls in consumption of sugars through milk, biscuits and cakes, counterbalanced by a significant increase in sugars consumed in soft drinks and, to a lesser extent, fruit juice and breakfast cereals.
Reference
Gibson S (2010) Trends in energy and sugar intakes and body mass index between 1983 and 1997 among children in Great Britain. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Published online in advance of print doi: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01059.x
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Health risks associated with soft drinks on the minds of UK consumers
A new YouGov SixthSense report into the drinks mar- ket reveals that one in four adults in the UK blame fizzy drinks as the main cause of obesity, with almost three quarters of respondents (71 percent) claiming soft drinks are bad for your teeth. These findings come in the wake of recently published
reports into new potential health risks associated with soft drinks. Academics in Harvard and Nagasaki have linked premature aging to high levels of phosphate found in soft drinks, while research coming out of Israel has identified a relationship between fizzy drinks and liver damage. Commenting on the findings, Research Director for
YouGov SixthSense, James McCoy, said, “The perceived health risks related to soft drinks are, for the most part, the same ones that have been around for years. We are more likely to link soft drink consumption with tooth decay than we are to weight gain. Similarly, it may be some time before new health concerns, such as liver damage, filter through to the wider population.” A high proportion of adults in the UK (66 percent) are worried about the influence drinks companies have on young children; with 29 percent of respondents in favour of banning all advertisements for carbonated or sugary soft drinks. Despite this, more than half of parents (51 per- cent) have let their children drink Coca-Cola in the last year, 40 percent of parents have served their children Ribena and 57 percent have served Robinson’s, includ- ing Squash, Barley Water and Fruit Shoots. 34 percent of parents have given their children bottled water over the past year.
Commenting further, James McCoy said, “In one way or another, fizzy drinks are widely viewed as being detrimental to one’s health. Many people are particu- larly concerned with the role of soft drinks companies in the lives of young people. However, bearing in mind that the majority of parents are still willing to serve soft drinks, it can be argued that a high level of media saturation seems to negate perceived health concerns. Unsurpris- ingly, 75 percent of respondents in the report highlighted ‘heavily advertised’ as a term they associated with Coca-Cola.” YouGov SixthSense alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks survey was carried out online : total sample size was 2,387 UK adults undertaken in March 2010.
www.yougovsixthsense.com
NHDmag.com Aug/Sept '10 - issue 57
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