Adherence
Prolonged consumption of LCS beverages is advised against in children due to a lack of long-term safety data and potential adverse effects on taste preferences and metabolic health.
For children, water is the only recommended beverage. LCS beverages should not be a regular part of a child's diet because we don't know the long-term effects on their developing taste preferences and metabolism. The only exception is for children with diabetes who need to manage blood sugar spikes, and even then, it should be used sparingly and under medical guidance.
On the basis of the available evidence, the writing group concluded that, at this time, it is prudent to advise against prolonged consumption of LCS beverages by children.
Why this rating
Based on limited long-term data and inconsistent observational evidence, leading to a precautionary recommendation.
Source
Low-Calorie Sweetened Beverages and Cardiometabolic Health: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association
Rachel K. Johnson et al. · Circulation · 2018
DOI 10.1161/cir.0000000000000569
More from this paper
- Substituting low-calorie sweetened (LCS) beverages for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is an effective strategy to reduce energy intake and promote weight loss in adults, particularly habitual SSB consumers.Good
- Observational studies linking LCS beverage consumption to increased risks of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and dementia are likely confounded by reverse causation and adiposity, rather than indicating a direct causal harm from LCS beverages.Moderate
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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