Association between Food, Beverages and Overweight/Obesity in Children and Adolescents-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

• Published in: Nutrients 2023-02, Vol.15 (3), p.764
• Main Authors: Jakobsen, Dorthe Dalstrup, Brader, Lea, Bruun, Jens Meldgaard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adiposity; Adolescent; Adolescents; Age; Beverages; Beverages - adverse effects; BMI-SDS; Body mass index; Body weight; Carbonated beverages; Child; childhood obesity; Children; Clinical trials; Convenience foods; Cross-sectional studies; Diet; Diet - adverse effects; dietary risk factors; Fast food; Fast Foods; Food; Food intake; Gastrointestinal surgery; Health aspects; Humans; Longitudinal studies; Meta-analysis; nutrition; Obesity; Obesity in adolescence; Obesity in children; Observational studies; Overweight; Overweight - complications; Overweight - etiology; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - etiology; Pediatric research; Reviews; Risk factors; Risk reduction; Statistical analysis; Systematic Review; Teenagers; weight development
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15030764

A healthy diet is essential to prevent childhood obesity, however, adherence to a healthy diet is challenging. The aim of this study was to give a comprehensive overview of the literature investigaating associations between food and beverages and overweight/obesity in children and adolescents in order to identify dietary risk factors. A systematic search was performed in four databases and observational studies were included. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effect model. Sixty records met inclusion criteria and 14 different food or beverage categories were identified. A higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages increased the odds of overweight/obesity by 1.20 ( < 0.05) ( = 26) and higher intake of fast food increased the odds of overweight/obesity by 1.17 ( < 0.05) ( = 24). Furthermore, higher intake of meat (OR 1.02, < 0.05 ( :7)) and refined grains (OR 1.28, < 0.05 ( :3)) was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity. In contrast, higher intake of whole grain (OR 0.86, = 0.04 ( :5)) and more surprisingly sweet bakery (OR 0.59, < 0.05 ( :3)) was associated with a decreased risk of overweight/obesity. In conclusion, a higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and a higher intake of fast food was identified as the primary dietary risk factors for overweight/obesity. Future research is needed to strengthen the generalizability of these results.