Preschool children who are regularly given sugary drinks between meals are more likely to be overweight than their peers, new study findings suggest.
The "empty" calories from sugar-sweetened sodas and fruit drinks have been blamed for contributing to childhood obesity, but not all studies have found evidence to support that claim.
In the new study, Canadian researchers looked at whether young children who regularly had sweet drinks between meals, specifically, were more likely to become overweight before age 5. Mothers of 1,500 children completed detailed dietary questionnaires when the children were 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 years old. The children's weight and height were measured at age 4.5 years.