The results of scientific studies linking American Population With Soft Drinks And Obesity, not be extrapolated to Spain

Barcelona, May 2009 -. An increasing number of studies on soft drink consumption and obesity, and results-contradictory yet also provoke heated debate. To try to shed light on the controversy, the scientific journal "Nutrition Research Reviews" recently published an article entitled "Soft drinks and obesity: a systematic review of evidence based on studies and analysis", in which warning of the danger of extrapolating results studies in the United States to the European population.


"Most of the results of studies conducted with children and adolescents from the United States, where consumption of soft drinks is twice as high compared with that recorded in Europe," he explains. Likewise, this article adds that American society has a lifestyle more sedentary "that exists in Europe, which aggravates the problem of overweight and obesity. He concludes: "Most studies suggest that the effect of soft drink consumption on a possible weight gain is small except in people prone to gaining weight or have high levels of consumption."


Obesity among the American population has increased considerably and according to the Center for Disease Control United States in 2005 was 23.9% of obese adults, a BMI greater than 30, while in 2007 this percentage already reached 25.6%.


Meanwhile, and according to the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEED) and the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN), the percentage of obese adult population in Spain is less than 16%. That is, almost 10% lower than that operating in the U.S., an argument that reinforces the view provided by "Nutrition Research Reviews.



Evidence of Oats, in Spanish population

Study Oats, based on a sample of over 1,500 Spanish adolescents, says that "there is a direct relationship between soft drink consumption and obesity," calling for a course of action for health authorities to focus primarily on the recommendation of follow a proper diet and neglect of a sedentary lifestyle.

The results of this study contradict the reports that moderate consumption of soda causes obesity. The work included a sample of 1,523 people, located in the age group ranging from 13 to 18 years, from different Spanish provinces, and indicates that the results of studies that talk of a link between soft drink consumption and obesity are "weak and inconsistent".


According to Professor of Research, Dr. Ascension Marcos, the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), coordinator of the OAT study, "The basic conclusion is that there appears to be an association between the consumption of such beverages and obesity, although the a dietary pattern approach is more convenient to investigate the association between diet and obesity, without forgetting at any moment the level of physical activity. "


Consequently, not only dietary patterns are important, but so are the eating habits and physical activity / inactivity that must always bear in mind when evaluating the relationship with obesity in longitudinal and transverse. "It is therefore important to perform intervention studies to try to identify comprehensive solutions sensitive to the increasing obesity epidemic," says Dr. Mark.


Furthermore, experts point out that the lifestyles of the population are different from either side of the Atlantic with the U.S. being more prone to physical inactivity. Equally influenced by the diet, most destructive in American society for not spending enough time with the food and have a fast lifestyle. Today we have seen that one must devote at least 15 to 45 minutes per meal, according to food type, and make five meals a day.



Other recent studies

According to the Avon study conducted last year in Cambridge, with a total sample of 1,203 children aged between five and six years old, "the results showed no significant association between obesity and sugary drinks. Moreover, the data suggest that the group that ate low-sugar drinks tended to be fat than the group that consumed beverages "not discounted. This seems to be because children tend to gain weight using low-calorie beverages as part of a diet plan, clearly ineffective.


The researchers involved in this study argue that there is very little evidence that sugary beverages play an important role in obesity compared with other foods, but also stress the need to provide balance in the diet. "


Also in this area, scientists at the University of Otago, from different medical areas, specifically analyzed the consumption of sugar or sucrose and its relationship to body weight. The work, published in "Public Health Nutrition", was to investigate the possible relationship between body mass index (BMI) and consumption of sugar and fat in adults and children in New Zealand. To this end, cross-sectional study was conducted in homes and schools that were part of 4379 adults (15 years) and 3049 children (5-14 years). Their results show how adults are overweight or obese did not provide a higher consumption of sugars or sucrose than normal weight adults.