Non-Caloric Beverages to Teens Avoid Excessive Weight Gain

dleithaus

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120921162305.htm

Discussion

The provision of noncaloric beverages virtually eliminated reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and reduced total reported energy intake among overweight and obese adolescents after a 1-year intervention, and there were persistent effects on diet through follow-up at 2 years. The change in BMI differed significantly between the experimental and control groups at 1 year but not at 2 years. We also found evidence of effect modification according to ethnic group, with the change in BMI differing between groups in a small sample of Hispanics but not among non-Hispanic participants.



In layman's terms, results at 1 year showed more positive results than at the 2 year mark.
The actual configuration of "non-caloric beverages" was described as: "The 1-year intervention consisted of home delivery of noncaloric beverages (e.g., bottled water and “diet” beverages) every 2 weeks, monthly motivational telephone calls with parents (30 minutes per call), and three check-in visits with participants (20 minutes per visit). Written intervention messages with instructions to drink the delivered beverages and not to buy or drink sugar-sweetened beverages were mailed to participants. Unsweetened water was recommended over artificially sweetened beverages."

It would be nice to see what the actual configuration of non-caloric beverages was... as teens are unlikely to avoid "diet soda" as an alternative to "water".