AHA: Added Sugar Intake and BMI Rise Concurrently

FRIDAY, March 25 (HealthDay News) -- Adult consumption of added sugars has increased since 1980-82, and so has body mass index (BMI), according to information presented at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism/Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention 2011 Scientific Sessions, held from March 22 to 25 in Atlanta.

Huifen Wang, of the School of Public Health in Minneapolis, and colleagues analyzed data from the Minnesota Heart Survey (MHS) from 1980-82 through 2007-09 to describe trends of added sugar intake and BMI among the adults aged 25 to 74 enrolled in the survey.

The researchers found that total carbohydrate and added sugar consumption increased, while total fat intake decreased during the 27-year period. Intake of added sugar increased 51 percent in women between 1980-82 and 2000-02 and then decreased a bit; the same pattern was seen in men. In general, women consumed less added sugar than men, and older adults consumed less added sugar than younger adults. BMI followed an upward trend in both men and women, and the change was most dramatic in adults 25 to 39 years of age. In women, BMI paralleled added sugar intake, decreasing in the 2007-09 survey; however, in men, BMI continued to increase, though added sugar intake decreased after 2000-02.

"From 1980-82 to 2000-02, population data showed concurrent increases of added sugar intake and BMI level. The decline of added sugar intake after 2002 is consistent with the decrease of sugar-sweetened soda reported by the USDA Food Supply Series data. Although other lifestyle factors should be considered to explain the upward secular trend of BMI in MHS adults, public health efforts should advise limiting added sugar intake," the authors write.

Abstract No. P309More Information

Related Content

AHA: Physical Activity Attenuates Salt's Impact on BPAHA: Obese Women, Children Underestimate Their WeightAHA: Sleep Deprivation Tied to Higher Calorie Intake