Nutritively sweetened beverage consumption and body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized experiments

  1. R. D. Mattes1,
  2. J. M. Shikany2,
  3. K. A. Kaiser3,
  4. D. B. Allison3,*

Article first published online: 26 MAY 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00755.x

Issue

Obesity Reviews

Obesity Reviews

Volume 12, Issue 5, pages 346–365, May 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mattes, R. D., Shikany, J. M., Kaiser, K. A. and Allison, D. B. (2011), Nutritively sweetened beverage consumption and body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized experiments. Obesity Reviews, 12: 346–365. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00755.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA;

  2. 2

    Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA;

  3. 3

    Section of Statistical Genetics, Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

*DB Allison, Section of Statistical Genetics, Department of Biostatistics, Ryals Public Health Building, Suite 414, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. E-mail: Dallison@uab.edu.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 APR 2011
  2. Article first published online: 26 MAY 2010
  3. Received 17 November 2009; revised 8 March 2010; accepted 1 April 2010

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Keywords:

  • Beverages;
  • obesity;
  • randomized clinical trials;
  • weight loss

Summary

Nutritively sweetened beverages (NSBs) may play a role in the obesity epidemic. We abstracted data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and evidence-based reviews through January 2009 concerning effects of consumption of NSBs on changes in body weight and adiposity. Studies included were those (i) conducted in humans; (ii) lasting at least 3 weeks; (iii) incorporating random assignment of subjects to conditions that differed only in the consumption of NSBs and (iv) including an adiposity indicator as an outcome. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of six studies that added NSBs to persons' diets showed dose-dependent increases in weight. Contrarily, meta-analysis of studies that attempted to reduce NSB consumption consistently showed no effect on body mass index (BMI) when all subjects were considered. Meta-analysis of studies providing access to results separately for subjects overweight at baseline showed a significant effect of a roughly 0.35 standard deviations lesser BMI change (i.e. more weight loss or less weight gain) relative to controls. The current evidence does not demonstrate conclusively that NSB consumption has uniquely contributed to obesity or that reducing NSB consumption will reduce BMI levels in general. We recommend an adequately powered RCT with overweight persons, for whom there is suggestive evidence of an effect.

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