Association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength: results from a sample of Chinese adolescents

Yunjie Zhang; Pan Xu; Yongjing Song; Nan Ma; Jinkui Lu

doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15987-z

Association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength: results from a sample of Chinese adolescents

BMC Public Health. 2023 May 30;23(1):1010. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15987-z.

Authors

Yunjie Zhang¹, Pan Xu², Yongjing Song¹, Nan Ma³, Jinkui Lu⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Hubei Jingzhou, 434020, P. R. China.
² School of Preschool Education, Shangrao Preschool Education College, Jiangxi Shangrao, 334000, P. R. China.
³ College of physical education and health, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, 201209, Shanghai, P. R. China. nanfeng202209@163.com.
⁴ School of Physical Education, Shangrao Normal University, Jiangxi Shangrao, 334000, P. R. China.

Abstract

Background: Although sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has become an important and widespread concern, there are few studies on the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength in Chinese adolescents. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength in Chinese adolescents.

Methods: A stratified whole-group sampling method was used to survey 25,893 adolescents aged 13-15 years old in China for sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength for grip strength and standing long jump. The subjects' basic information, body mass index (BMI), and covariates were investigated. The association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength was analyzed by multivariate logisitc regression analysis.

Results: The proportions of Chinese adolescents who consumed sugar-sweetened beverage ≥ 3 times/week, 1-2 times/week, and < 1 time/week were 12.23%, 52.79%, and 34.98%, respectively. The differences in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency were statistically significant when compared across gender, parental education, duration of physical activity, snacks, and mode of commuting to school (χ² values = 228.570, 51.422, 275.552, 3165.656, 10.988, P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that overall Chinese adolescents with sugary drinks 1-2 times/week (OR = 1.207, 95% CI:1.132-1.287) and sugary drinks ≥ 3 times/week (OR = 1.771, 95% CI:1.611-1.947) were associated with lower muscle strength compared to sugary drinks < 1 time/week showed a positive association (P < 0.01). The same trend was found for boys and girls.

Conclusion: Chinese adolescents' sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is common, and high-frequency sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with lower muscle strength. In the future, we should control the use of sugar-sweetened beverages and increase muscular strength training in Chinese adolescents to promote healthy growth.

Keywords: Adolescents; Cross-sectional survey; Muscle strength; Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Body Mass Index
East Asian People
Female
Humans
Male
Muscle Strength*
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages*