Sugar‐sweetened beverages intake and the risk of obesity in children: An updated systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis

Summary Background The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased worldwide and has reached alarming proportions. Contradictive results from studies and reviews have fuelled an endless debate on the role of SSBs in the development of childhood obesity. Objective This study aimed to assess the impact of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake on body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and waist circumference (WC) among children. Methods Databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched up to August 2021. Observational studies reporting the relation between SSBs intake and BMI, BFP, and WC were included. STATA version 15 was used to analyse the data. Results In this meta‐analysis, 33 studies with 121 282 subjects were included. Excessive SSBs intake was associated with 0.75 kg/m 2 increase in BMI in children and adolescents (WMD: 0.75; CI 0.35–1.15; p < 0.001). In addition, high SSBs intake was significantly associated with higher WC (WMD: 2.35 cm; 95% CI, 1.34, 3.37; p = 0.016) and BFP (WMD: 2.81; CI 2.21–3.41; p < 0.001). No departure from linearity was detected in dose–response meta‐analysis between SSBs consumption and changes in BMI, WC, and BFP. Conclusion High SSBs consumption was associated with increased BMI, WC, and BFP among children and adolescents. Further large prospective long‐term interventions are recommended to confirm the observed relationships.