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The association between Healthy Beverage Index and anthropometric measures among children: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

Several studies evaluated the associations between specific beverages and cardio-metabolic risks among children. However, the evidence on the association between patterns of the beverage consumption and children’s anthropometric indices is rare. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the association between Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) and anthropometric measures among 6-year-old girl children.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 788 children selected from health centers in Tehran, Iran. Data on beverage intake, socio-demographic, physical activity, and anthropometric characteristics were evaluated using reliable and validated standard protocols. The predefined HBI was calculated based on the previous research.

Results

After controlling for several confounders [mother age, mother body mass index, mother physical activity, socioeconomic status, children physical activity and energy intake, total oils (all kinds of oils like animal and plant oils), and total sweet foods (sweet foods except sweetened beverages)], being in the third compared to the first tertile of HBI among children was associated with increased odds of wasting (OR: 5.16; 95% CI 1.5–17.79) and underweight/wasting (OR: 1.81; 95% CI 1.07–3.07). Among the HBI components, just being in the third compared to the first tertile of high-fat milk was inversely associated with decreased odds of wasting (OR: 0.18; 95% CI 0.04–0.73).

Conclusions

The HBI among children was associated with higher odds of wasting and underweight/wasting. In addition, high-fat milk consumption decreased the odds of wasting among children. Further prospective studies need to confirm these results.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the subjects who participated in the study. This study was funded by the National Institute for Medical Research Development (Grant Number: 94-04-161-31112).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 1416643931, Tehran, Iran

    Yahya Jalilpiran, Mohammadreza Askari, Alireza Jafari & Leila Azadbakht

  2. Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Yahya Jalilpiran

  3. Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Hadis Mozaffari

  4. Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Leila Azadbakht

  5. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran

    Leila Azadbakht

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  1. Yahya Jalilpiran
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  2. Hadis Mozaffari
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  3. Mohammadreza Askari
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  4. Alireza Jafari
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  5. Leila Azadbakht
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Correspondence to Leila Azadbakht.

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This study ethically approved by National Institute for Medical Research Development of Tehran University of medical science, Tehran, Iran (IR. TUMS. VCR.REC.94-04-161-31 112).

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Informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to the study.

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Jalilpiran, Y., Mozaffari, H., Askari, M. et al. The association between Healthy Beverage Index and anthropometric measures among children: a cross-sectional study. Eat Weight Disord 26, 1437–1445 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00954-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00954-z

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