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SWEET drinks whether Kool- Aid with sugar or all-natural apple juice seem to raise the risk of pudgy preschoolers getting fatter, new research suggests. That may come as a surprise to parents who pride themselves on serving fruit drinks with no added sugar.
"Juice is definitely a part of this," said researcher Jean Welsh of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fruit juice does have vitamins, but nutritionists say it's inferior to fresh fruit. The new U.S. dietary guidelines, for example, urge consumers to substitute whole fruit for juice.
Welsh's research, published in the February issue of Pediatrics, found that 3- and 4-year-olds who are already on the heavy side and drink something sweet once or twice a day double their risk of becoming seriously overweight a year later.
The sweet drinks seemed to have little effect, however, on children of normal weight.
Nutritionists believe that calorie-dense, low-fiber foods like juice may lead to overeating because such foods are quickly consumed but less filling than foods higher in fiber.
The authors suggest that limiting sweet drinks may help solve the growing problem of childhood obesity. Associated Press
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