HOUSTON, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Don't be thrown by the sweet taste: Children shouldn't gain weight if they drink the right amount of fruit juice, a researcher in Texas said.
Baylor College of Medicine professor Theresa Nicklas determined drinking 100 percent juice was not associated with an increase in a child's body mass index, an indicator of being overweight, the Houston-based university said in a news release. She and other researchers evaluated data from a national sample of preschool children.
In the study, she said concern has been raised about how much fruit juice should be given to children because of its sweet taste. Nicklas, a child nutrition researcher, said more research is needed to better understand how diet, lifestyle and physical activity affect childhood obesity, the university said.
The study was published in the October issue of Pediatrics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children between ages 1 and 6 should drink between four and six ounces of juice a day.
