Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-SOD-119 standard review

Cutting sugary drinks helped teenagers' weight for one year

A randomized trial of sugar-sweetened beverages and adolescent body weight.

Overview

Ebbeling CB et al.. N Engl J Med 2012 · PMID 22998339 · DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1203388

Overweight teenagers who replaced sugary drinks gained less weight during the one-year programme, but the difference was gone a year later.

Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: Test whether reducing sugary drinks slows weight gain in teenagers.
How was the study done?: Randomised trial with free non-caloric drinks delivered home for a year.
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 224 overweight teenagers.
What was actually found?: Less weight gain at 1 year; no difference at 2 years.
How large was the observed effect?: Weight -1.9 kg at 1 year.
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Reducing sugary drinks helps while it is maintained.
What are the study's limitations?: Effect did not last after the programme.
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Partly supports the claim.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: Moderate.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Cannot show lasting benefit.

Does an intervention reducing SSB consumption slow weight gain in overweight adolescents?

Study design: Randomised controlled trial – Randomised controlled trial, 1-year intervention with 1-year follow-up (NCT00381160)
Population: Overweight and obese adolescents who regularly drank SSB
Country: USA
Period: 2 years
Sample size: 224
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Overweight/obese adolescents with regular SSB intake

Exposure / intervention: Home delivery of non-caloric beverages and counselling for 1 year
Comparator: Control
Endpoints: BMI change at 2 years (primary); BMI and weight at 1 year; body fat
Statistical methods: Intention-to-treat

Results: SSB intake fell from 1.7 servings/day to nearly 0 at 1 year in the intervention group. At 2 years, BMI change did not differ (-0.3, P=0.46; primary outcome). At 1 year, BMI -0.57 (P=0.045) and weight -1.9 kg (P=0.04). Effect modification by ethnic group: Hispanic participants BMI -1.79 at 1 year and -2.35 at 2 years.
Absolute risks: not applicable
Authors' conclusion: BMI increase was smaller at 1 year, but not at the 2-year primary end point.

Benefit during active intervention faded after it stopped; subgroup results need caution (multiplicity).

Mixed for C-SOD-02: reducing SSB lowered weight gain while the intervention lasted; effect not sustained.

de Ruyter 2012 (I-SOD-118) positive.

Moderate.

Supports a short-term effect and shows that sustaining reduced intake is difficult.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	high
Risk of bias	some concerns
Precision of results	low
Directness	direct
Reproducibility	partly replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	mixed
Regional transferability	moderate
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable

How to maintain reduced SSB intake.