Research Shows 100% Juices Do Not Cause Obesity

November 2006 (Medialink) -- Despite the confusion over juice, new research has found that it's not 100 percent fruit juice that makes children overweight.

As a result of two new studies published in the journal Pediatrics, parents can now feel confident about serving their children appropriate amounts of 100 percent fruit juice. Both of these studies confirm that there is no connection between children's weight and consuming reasonable amounts of fruit juice.

One of the studies from the Baylor College of Medicine evaluated data accumulated over several years from a national sample of preschoolers. The researchers determined that consumption of 100 percent juices is not associated with body mass index (BMI) among preschoolers.

The analysis was based on the largest, on-going government database on food consumption (NHANES - National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey).

The findings of another recent study also published in Pediatrics found there was no connection between juice consumption and body weight among normal weight children and among overweight children who consumed moderate amounts of juice. The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines allow for 1/2 cup juice for children 1 to 5 years old and 1-1/2 cups juice for older children.

When it comes to childhood obesity, researchers agree that more studies are needed on many diet and lifestyle factors, not just beverages.
Produced for the Juice Products Association