HOUSTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Consumption of 100 percent fruit juices is not linked with preschoolers being overweight, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Researchers examined data accumulated over several years and concluded there was no association between preschoolers' 100 percent fruit juice consumption and body mass index, even among those children who consume the most juice -- greater than 12 ounces a day.
The BMI used in this study is a number calculated from a child's weight and height and is based on special criteria established for children by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
The researchers concluded that on average, preschool children drank less milk than the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation of 16 ounces a day. Only 8.6 percent drank low-fat or skim milk, as recommended for children who are older than 2 years. On average, preschool children drank less than 6 ounces a day of 100 percent fruit juice. Increased beverage consumption was associated with an increase in the total energy intake of the children but not with their BMI, according to the study published in Pediatrics.
