Preventing childhood obesity by reducing consumption of carbonated drinks: cluster randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if a school based educational programme aimed at reducing consumption of carbonated drinks can prevent excessive weight gain in children. DESIGN: Cluster randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Six primary schools in southwest England. PARTICIPANTS: 644 children aged 7-11 years. INTERVENTION: Focused educational programme on nutrition over one school year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Drink consumption and number of overweight and obese children. RESULTS: Consumption of carbonated drinks over three days decreased by 0.6 glasses (average glass size 250 ml) in the intervention group but increased by 0.2 glasses in the control group (mean difference 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.1 to 1.3). At 12 months the percentage of overweight and obese children increased in the control group by 7.5%, compared with a decrease in the intervention group of 0.2% (mean difference 7.7%, 2.2% to 13.1%). CONCLUSION: A targeted, school based education programme produced a modest reduction in the number of carbonated drinks consumed, which was associated with a reduction in the number of overweight and obese children.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In a cluster randomized trial in the United Kingdom, a significant difference in BMI z-score and overweight/obesity risk between groups was observed at the end of the first year, supporting a positive association between SSBs and obesity risk.
“A significant difference in BMI z-score and overweight/obesity risk between groups was observed at the end of the first year, supporting a positive association between SSBs and obesity risk [61].”
From The negative impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on children’s health: an update of the literature (2018) · cites this paper as [61]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey
Cole, T. J. (2000) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240 · Cited by 16,500 · see citing works
‘Small Changes' to Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors for Weight Management
Hills, A. P., Byrne, N. M., Lindstrom, R. C., & Hill, J. O. (2013) · Obesity Facts · doi:10.1159/000345030 · Cited by 9,526 · see citing works
Genetics of Food Intake Self-Regulation in Childhood: Literature Review and Research Opportunities
Faith, M. S., Carnell, S., & Kral, T. V. E. (2013) · Human Heredity · doi:10.1159/000353879 · Cited by 7,628 · see citing works
Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases
Joint, W. (2002) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,889 · see citing works
Interventions for preventing obesity in children
Brown, T. J., Moore, T. H., Hooper, L., Gao, Y., Zayegh, A. M., Ijaz, S., Elwenspoek, M. M. C., Foxen, S. C., Magee, L., O’Malley, C. L., et al. (2019) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd001871.pub4 · Cited by 2,996 · see citing works
Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure
Ebbeling, C. B., Pawlak, D. B., & Ludwig, D. S. (2002) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)09678-2 · Cited by 2,980 · see citing works
Ludwig, D. S., Peterson, K. E., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2001) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)04041-1 · Cited by 2,377 · see citing works
Environmental Contributions to the Obesity Epidemic
Hill, J. O., & Peters, J. C. (1998) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.280.5368.1371 · Cited by 2,206 · see citing works
Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?
Hill, J. O., Wyatt, H. R., Reed, G. W., & Peters, J. C. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1079857 · Cited by 2,180 · see citing works
Body mass index reference curves for the UK, 1990.
Cole, T. J., Freeman, J. V., & Preece, M. A. (1995) · Archives of Disease in Childhood · doi:10.1136/adc.73.1.25 · Cited by 2,063 · see citing works
Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases
Amine, E. K., Baba, N., Belhadj, M., Deurenberg‐Yap, M., Djazayery, A., Forrestre, T., Galuska, D. A., Herman, S. M., James, W. P. T., Kabangu, M., et al. (2002) · Figshare · doi:10.25405/ncl.34607289 · Cited by 1,993 · see citing works
Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases
Leong, A. (1992) · Pathology · doi:10.1016/s0031-3025(16)36541-2 · Cited by 1,633 · see citing works
Recommended dietary intakes in Denmark.
Jensen, J. H. (1990) · PubMed · Cited by 1,346 · see citing works
Reducing Obesity via a School-Based Interdisciplinary Intervention Among Youth
Gortmaker, S. L., Peterson, K. E., Wiecha, J. L., Sobol, A. M., Dixit, S., Fox, M. K., & Laird, N. M. (1999) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.153.4.409 · Cited by 1,335 · see citing works
World Health Organization Technical Report Series
(1972) · Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL · doi:10.1093/jaoac/55.3.666 · Cited by 916 · see citing works
Soft Drink Consumption Among US Children and Adolescents
HARNACK, L., STANG, J., & STORY, M. (1999) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(99)00106-6 · Cited by 777 · see citing works
Contamination in trials: is cluster randomisation the answer?
Torgerson, D. J. (2001) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7282.355 · Cited by 508 · see citing works
National diet and nutrition survey: young people aged 4 to 18 years
Robinson, S. F. (2001) · Cited by 428 · see citing works
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey: young people aged 4–18 years
Smithers, G., Gregory, J. R., Bates, C. J., Prentice, A., Jackson, L., & Wenlock, R. W. (2000) · Nutrition Bulletin · doi:10.1046/j.1467-3010.2000.00027.x · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Metabolic precursors and effects of obesity in children: a decade of progress, 1990–1999
Goran, M. I. (2001) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/73.2.158 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Sahota, P., RUDOLF, M. C. J., Dixey, R., Hill, A. J., Barth, J. H., & Cade, J. E. (2001) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7320.1027 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Interventions for preventing obesity in children
Campbell, K., Waters, E., O'Meara, S., Kelly, S., & Summerbell, C. (2002) · The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd001871 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
Ukoumunne, O. C. (2002) · Statistics in Medicine · doi:10.1002/sim.1330 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Comment on "Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?"
Butte, N. F., & Ellis, K. J. (2003) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1085985 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Soft Drink Consumption Among US Children and Adolescents: Nutritional Consequences
Maloney, M. J., Harnack, L., Stang, J. L., & Story, M. T. (1999) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-199910000-00027 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
School based programmes on obesity
Atkinson, R. L., & Nitzke, S. A. (2001) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7320.1018 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Brundtland meets food and drink leaders but declines Coke cocktail
Kapp, C. N. (2003) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(03)13382-x · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Matayka K. Managing obesity in children. Obes Pract 2002;4(2):2-6.
- Cole TJ. The LMS method for constructing normalized growth standards. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:45-60.
- James J, Thomas P, Kerr D. Childhood obesity: a big problem for small people. Diabetes Primary Care 2002;4(3):75-9.
- Butte NF, Ellis KJ. Science 2003;301:598.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Barlow, S. E., & and the Expert Committee (2007) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2329c · Cited by 4,497 · see citing works
Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: a systematic review
Malik, V. S., Schulze, M. B., & Hu, F. B. (2006) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/84.2.274 · Cited by 2,100 · see citing works
Effects of soft drink consumption on nutrition and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Vartanian, L. R., Schwartz, M. B., & Brownell, K. D. (2007) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2005.083782 · Cited by 1,863 · see citing works
Malik, V. S., Pan, A., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.058362 · Cited by 1,668 · see citing works
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Malik, V. S., Popkin, B. M., Bray, G. A., Després, J.-P., & Hu, F. B. (2010) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.876185 · Cited by 1,641 · see citing works
Te Morenga, L., Mallard, S., & Mann, J. (2012) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.e7492 · Cited by 1,629 · see citing works
Johnson, R. K., Appel, L. J., Brands, M., Howard, B. V., Lefevre, M., Lustig, R. H., Sacks, F., Steffen, L. M., & Wylie-Rosett, J. (2009) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.192627 · Cited by 1,207 · see citing works
He, F. J., & MacGregor, G. A. (2009) · Journal of Human Hypertension · doi:10.1038/jhh.2008.144 · Cited by 1,123 · see citing works
Dhingra, R., Sullivan, L., Jacques, P. F., Wang, T. J., Fox, C. S., Meigs, J. B., D’Agostino, R. B., Gaziano, J. M., & Vasan, R. S. (2007) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.107.689935 · Cited by 918 · see citing works
Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes: epidemiologic evidence
Hu, F. B., & Malik, V. S. (2010) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.01.036 · Cited by 909 · see citing works
Hu, F. B. (2013) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/obr.12040 · Cited by 884 · see citing works
A Trial of Sugar-free or Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Body Weight in Children
de Ruyter, J. C., Olthof, M. R., Seidell, J. C., & Katan, M. B. (2012) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa1203034 · Cited by 814 · see citing works
A Randomized Trial of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Adolescent Body Weight
Ebbeling, C. B., Feldman, H. A., Chomitz, V. R., Antonelli, T. A., Gortmaker, S. L., Osganian, S. K., & Ludwig, D. S. (2012) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa1203388 · Cited by 699 · see citing works
Brown, T., & Summerbell, C. (2009) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2008.00515.x · Cited by 697 · see citing works
Doak, C. M., Visscher, T. L. S., Renders, C. M., & Seidell, J. C. (2006) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2006.00234.x · Cited by 691 · see citing works
Wang, Y. C., Bleich, S. N., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2008) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2834 · Cited by 686 · see citing works
Kumanyika, S. K., Obarzanek, E., Stettler, N., Bell, R., Field, A. E., Fortmann, S. P., Franklin, B. A., Gillman, M. W., Lewis, C. E., Poston, W. C., et al. (2008) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.108.189702 · Cited by 636 · see citing works
Reducing population salt intake worldwide: from evidence to implementation
He, F. J., & MacGregor, G. A. (2010) · Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases · doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2009.12.006 · Cited by 625 · see citing works
Havel, P. J. (2005) · Nutrition Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00132.x · Cited by 607 · see citing works
Harris, K. C., Kuramoto, L. K., Schulzer, M., & Retallack, J. E. (2009) · Canadian Medical Association Journal · doi:10.1503/cmaj.080966 · Cited by 497 · see citing works
A Policy-Based School Intervention to Prevent Overweight and Obesity
Foster, G. D., Sherman, S., Borradaile, K. E., Grundy, K. M., Vander Veur, S. S., Nachmani, J., Karpyn, A., Kumanyika, S., & Shults, J. (2008) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2007-1365 · Cited by 496 · see citing works
Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in the United States: A Public Health Concern
Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S. (2019) · Global Pediatric Health · doi:10.1177/2333794x19891305 · Cited by 471 · see citing works
Economos, C. D., Hyatt, R. R., Goldberg, J. P., Must, A., Naumova, E. N., Collins, J. J., & Nelson, M. E. (2007) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2007.155 · Cited by 444 · see citing works
Kamath, C. C., Vickers, K. S., Ehrlich, A., McGovern, L., Johnson, J., Singhal, V., Paulo, R., Hettinger, A., Erwin, P. J., & Montori, V. M. (2008) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2006-2411 · Cited by 395 · see citing works
Hill, J. O. (2009) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26566 · Cited by 370 · see citing works
School-Based Interventions on Childhood Obesity
Gonzalez-Suarez, C., Worley, A., Grimmer-Somers, K., & Dones, V. (2009) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2009.07.012 · Cited by 361 · see citing works
Tate, D. F., Turner-McGrievy, G., Lyons, E., Stevens, J., Erickson, K., Polzien, K., Diamond, M., Wang, X., & Popkin, B. (2012) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.026278 · Cited by 345 · see citing works
Muckelbauer, R., Libuda, L., Clausen, K., Toschke, A. M., Reinehr, T., & Kersting, M. (2009) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2186 · Cited by 334 · see citing works
The negative impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on children’s health: an update of the literature
Bleich, S. N., & Vercammen, K. A. (2018) · BMC Obesity · doi:10.1186/s40608-017-0178-9 · Cited by 309 · see citing works
Carbohydrate intake and obesity
van Dam, R. M., & Seidell, J. C. (2007) · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602939 · Cited by 261 · see citing works
Fructose as a key player in the development of fatty liver disease
Basaranoglu, M. (2013) · World Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i8.1166 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Does the consumption of caloric and non-caloric beverages with a meal affect energy intake?
DellaValle, D. M., Roe, L. S., & Rolls, B. J. (2005) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2004.11.003 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Martínez Vizcaíno, V, Salcedo Aguilar, F., Franquelo Gutiérrez, R., Solera Martínez, M., Sánchez López, M., Serrano Martínez, S., López García, E., & Rodríguez Artalejo, F. (2008) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803738 · Cited by 189 · see citing works
Osei-Assibey, G., Dick, S., Macdiarmid, J., Semple, S., Reilly, J. J., Ellaway, A., Cowie, H., & McNeill, G. (2012) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001538 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Liu, Z., Xu, H.-M., Wen, L.-M., Peng, Y.-Z., Lin, L.-Z., Zhou, S., Li, W.-H., & Wang, H.-J. (2019) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-019-0848-8 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Singh, A. S., Chin A Paw, M. J. M., Brug, J., & van Mechelen, W. (2009) · Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.2 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Stookey, J. D., Constant, F., Popkin, B. M., & Gardner, C. D. (2008) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2008.409 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Katz, D. L. (2009) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.031308.100307 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Mattes, R. D., Shikany, J. M., Kaiser, K. A., & Allison, D. B. (2011) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2010.00755.x · Cited by 160 · see citing works
James, J., Thomas, P., & Kerr, D. (2007) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.39342.571806.55 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Self-citationPoint-of-Purchase Price and Education Intervention to Reduce Consumption of Sugary Soft Drinks
Block, J. P., Chandra, A., McManus, K. D., & Willett, W. C. (2010) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2009.175687 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Cope, M. B., & Allison, D. B. (2010) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.239 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Calcium and dairy intakes in relation to long-term weight gain in US men
Rajpathak, S. N., Rimm, E. B., Rosner, B., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2006) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn.83.3.559 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Lakshman, R. R., Sharp, S. J., Ong, K. K., & Forouhi, N. G. (2010) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-123 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Blaine, R. E., Franckle, R. L., Ganter, C., Falbe, J., Giles, C., Criss, S., Kwass, J.-A., Land, T., Gortmaker, S. L., Chuang, E., et al. (2017) · Preventing Chronic Disease · doi:10.5888/pcd14.160381 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Hung, L.-S., Tidwell, D. K., Hall, M. E., Lee, M. L., Briley, C. A., & Hunt, B. P. (2015) · Nutrition Research · doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2015.01.002 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Verrotti, A., Penta, L., Zenzeri, L., Agostinelli, S., & De Feo, P. (2014) · Journal of Endocrinological Investigation · doi:10.1007/s40618-014-0153-y · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Oosterhoff, M., Joore, M., & Ferreira, I. (2016) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/obr.12446 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Changes in Body Mass Index Associated With Head Start Participation
Lumeng, J. C., Kaciroti, N., Sturza, J., Krusky, A. M., Miller, A. L., Peterson, K. E., Lipton, R., & Reischl, T. M. (2015) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2014-1725 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Can artificial sweeteners help control body weight and prevent obesity?
Benton, D. (2005) · Nutrition Research Reviews · doi:10.1079/nrr200494 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Wang, J. W., Mark, S., Henderson, M., O'Loughlin, J., Tremblay, A., Wortman, J., Paradis, G., & Gray‐Donald, K. (2013) · Pediatric Obesity · doi:10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00108.x · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Husøy, T., Mangschou, B., Fotland, T. Ø., Kolset, S. O., Nøtvik Jakobsen, H., Tømmerberg, I., Bergsten, C., Alexander, J., & Frost Andersen, L. (2008) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.fct.2008.06.013 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Parker, K., Nunns, M., Xiao, Z., Ford, T., & Ukoumunne, O. C. (2021) · BMC Medical Research Methodology · doi:10.1186/s12874-021-01348-0 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Kamin, T., Koroušić Seljak, B., & Fidler Mis, N. (2022) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu14071346 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
- Authors
- James, J., Thomas, P., Cavan, D., & Kerr, D.
- Affiliations
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital (GB)
- Poole Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- James, Janet
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2004-04-23
- Volume
- 328
- Issue
- 7450
- Pages
- 1237
- ISSN
- 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
- 0959-8138
- 1468-5833
- PMC
- PMC416601
- OpenAlex
- W2156450538
- Cited by
- 827
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 67
- FWCI
- 73.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Keywords
- childhood obesity prevention, soft drinks, school education, nutrition education, overweight children, elementary school students, weight gain
- MeSH terms
- Carbonated Beverages, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Patient Education as Topic, Body Mass Index, Cluster Analysis, Confidence Intervals
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
