April 17, 2009 – If you want to lose weight, cut down on drinks with added sugar (including glucose, sucrose, sucrose or fructose) first, suggests an American study1. They would be largely responsible for overweight, perhaps even more than some solid foods high in calories or fat.
The study was conducted in the United States with 810 adults followed for a year and a half. According to data collected by the researchers, they ingested an average of 355 calories per day from liquid, and 131 of those calories came from sugary drinks.
According to the results, eliminating one serving per day of a sugary drink (100 calories) resulted in significant weight loss, i.e. 0.5 kg after 6 months and 0.65 kg at 18e month. The observed weight loss was greater for the reduction in liquid calories than it was for an equivalent reduction in solid calories, the researchers observed.
And among caloric liquids, only reducing the consumption of sugary drinks had a significant effect on weight loss: diet drinks (sweetened without sugar), pure fruit or vegetable juices without added sugar, milk, sweetened coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages had no measurable effect on weight loss.
According to recent data, based on a study of approximately 30,000 adult Americans2, the consumption of sugary drinks is said to be on the rise. The last decade has seen an 8.6% increase in the number of regular consumers of these drinks in the United States.
Sugary drinks also increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to recent study3.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to Reuters Health.
1. Chen L, Appeal LJ, et al. Reduction in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight loss: the FIRST trial, Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr 1.
2. Bleich SN, Wang YC, et al. Increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among US adults: 1988-1994 to 1999-2004, Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jan; 89 (1): 372-81.
3. On this subject, see our new Sweetened drinks: harmful to the health of the heart.
