Skip to main content

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

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.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

Research has found that muscle strength is an important determinant of physical health [1]. Low muscle mass and low muscle strength are important contributors to adverse health problems such as falls and disability, and are also important contributing factors to metabolic dysfunction in adolescents, affecting cognitive development, bone growth and overall health during adolescence [2]. Inadequate muscle strength can also have an impact on gross and fine motor performance in adolescents and even negatively affect the future development of osteoporosis and sarcopenia [3, 4]. A study on adolescent grip strength showed that from 1967 to 2017, adolescent grip strength improved in overall trend, with countries such as the United States and Italy showing an upward trend, while some countries such as China and Belgium showed a downward or stable trend [5]. In addition, an analysis of one-handed static tension reports from Chinese and US populations also showed that US subjects exhibited greater muscle strength than Chinese subjects [6]. It has also been confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic also had a negative impact on muscle strength status in adolescents, especially in boys much more than in girls [7]. A survey showed that Chinese adolescents had a 23.89% decrease in pull-up performance compared to pre-pandemic COVID-19 [8]. It is evident that muscle strength is important for healthy adolescent development and is influenced by various factors [9]. The literature shows that genetics [10], age [11], chronic diseases [12], lifestyle [13], daily diet [14], and physical activity [15] are all important factors that affect adolescent muscle strength. In addition, many epidemiological surveys also show that with the continuous improvement of lifestyle, the amount of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among adolescents continues to increase and becomes an important factor affecting physical and mental health.

In terms of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, middle-income countries are significantly higher than those at higher income levels [16]. United States in recent years sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has declined, but consumption levels are still higher than the United States Dietary Guidelines and WHO recommendations [17]. 54% of adolescents in middle- and low-income countries consume sugary drinks at least once a day [18]. The majority (87.6%) of adolescents in China consume sugary drinks, with a consumption level of 205.4 ml/day per person [19]. There are also surveys showing that China produced more than 180 million tons of various sugary drinks in 2017, 440 times more than in 1992 [20]. This shows that the consumption of sugary drinks is at a high level. A growing number of studies have shown that the consumption of sugary beverages poses a significant health risk and has been shown to be positively associated with circulatory and digestive diseases and all-cause mortality [21]. In addition, the continued increase in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption can lead to an increase in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiometabolic diseases, and rectal adenomas in adolescents [22,23,24,25,26]. Studies have also confirmed that excessive consumption of sugary drinks can lead to changes in skeletal muscle mitochondria, which can have a negative impact on muscle strength [27]. It is evident that sugary drinks are an important factor influencing muscle strength in adolescents and a significant causal factor in the persistent decline of muscle strength in adolescents. However, the findings were not consistent with regard to the relationship between sugary drinks and muscle strength. It was found that no significant association was found between sugary drinks and muscle function [28].

The comprehensive literature shows that studies on the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages and muscle strength in adolescents in developed countries are increasing year by year, and there are inconsistent findings. While sugar-sweetened beverage consumption continues to increase in developing countries, especially in China, it is unclear whether the increase in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption affects adolescents’ muscle strength. Given the importance of muscle strength for healthy adolescent development and the continued increase in adolescent sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, it is necessary to investigate and study the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and muscle strength in Chinese adolescents. To this end, we tested the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength in 25,893 adolescents aged 13–15 years in China and analyzed the association between the two. We aimed to provide reference and help for healthy diet and muscle strength promotion and intervention in adolescents.

Materials and methods

Participants and procedures

A stratified whole-group sampling method was used to draw the subjects. The specific steps were as follows: First, according to the geographical distribution of each province, Liaoning, Henan, Fujian, Hainan, Sichuan, Jiangxi, and Xinjiang in China were used as the survey areas. Second, each region selected a total of five secondary schools in the east-west, north-south, and central directions according to the geographical distribution of secondary schools as the survey schools. Third, each school was sampled in classes, and five teaching classes were randomly selected in whole groups for each grade level. A total of 26,314 adolescents in 525 teaching classes were selected for this study. After excluding 421 adolescents who were missing due to demographically important information after the survey, a total of 25,893 valid questionnaires were returned (13,451 boys, 51.9%), with a valid return rate of 98.40%. The specific subject extraction process is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Sampling process of Chinese adolescent subjects

This study investigation followed the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association. Written informed consent was signed by the student’s parents and myself, respectively, prior to the start of this study investigation. This study was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of Shangrao Normal University (2018R-0219).

Survey of basic demographic information

The survey of basic demographic information included subjects’ age, gender, school, class, and parents’ education, etc. Subjects were asked to conduct the questionnaire according to their actual situation. Parental education was filled in according to the highest education of one of the fathers or mothers, and was divided into three levels: elementary school and below, junior high school or high school, and college and above. In order to protect students’ personal privacy, the survey was filled in the form of coding.

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency

The frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in the past week was investigated on the basis of relevant data and was classified as ≥ 3 times/week, 1–2 times/week, and < 1 time/week [29]. Each time, the calculation is done with a daily bottle of about 300 ml. The types of sugary drinks include sports drinks, juice drinks, coffee drinks, carbonated drinks and other aspects.

Muscle strength test

The muscle strength was evaluated by grip strength, which reflects the muscle strength of upper limbs, and standing long jump performance, which reflects the muscle strength of lower limbs. In order to comprehensively evaluate the muscle strength level of the subjects, the grip strength and standing long jump scores were standardized according to age and gender, and the muscle strength index was obtained by summing the z-scores of both. Muscle strength index = Zgrip strength+Zstanding long jump. The muscle strength index was divided into percentiles according to age and gender, and those below the P25th percentile were defined as those with low muscle strength, while those above the P25th percentile were defined as those with normal muscle strength [30]. Muscle strength was tested according to the testing methods and instruments required by the China National Student Physical Health Survey [31].

Investigation of covariates

The oblique variables in this study included indicators such as mode of transportation to and from school, frequency of snack intake, duration of physical activity, and BMI, in addition to basic demographic information. The calculation of BMI was performed based on height and weight. Height and weight were tested according to the testing instruments and methods required by the student physical fitness standards, and both height and weight were accurate to one decimal point [32]. Transportation to and from school was divided into positive and negative modes of transportation, with positive modes of transportation including walking or bicycling and negative modes including taking the subway, bus, private car transportation, and electric car. The frequency of snack intake was divided into three categories: <1 time/week, 1–2 times/week, and ≥ 3 times/week. The duration of physical exercise was mainly calculated as the time of medium-intensity physical activity in the past 7 days, and the average daily time of medium-intensity physical activity was calculated and divided into three categories: <30 min/day, 30–60 min/day, and > 60 min/day.

Quality control

The survey of this study was conducted by trained graduate students, and the purpose and requirements of the survey were explained to the students before the survey, and the survey was conducted after receiving written informed consent from the students themselves. When the questionnaire was returned, the subjects were asked to fill in the missing and wrong entries in time to ensure the validity of the survey. The survey process was conducted under the guidance of the survey staff, and questions were answered promptly. The questionnaires were distributed on the spot and collected on the spot.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation (M ± SD). The representation of count variables was expressed as a percentage.

The comparison of each variable among Chinese adolescents with different sugary drinks was performed by one-way ANOVA or chi-square test. A chi-square test was used to compare the detection rates of different frequencies of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on muscle strength index levels in Chinese adolescents. The association between sugar-sweetened beverages and muscle strength was performed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Whether Chinese adolescents had a low muscle strength index was used as the dependent variable, and the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was used as the independent variable. Crude models were not adjusted for relevant confounding variables, and only the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and muscle strength was analyzed. Model 1 adjusted for age and parental education. Model 2 adjusted for school commuting pattern, snack intake, physical activity duration, and BMI based on model 1.

The analysis of this study was conducted using SPSS25.0(SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software with α = 0.05 as a two-sided test level.

Results

Table 1 shows that 25,893 Chinese adolescents aged 13–15 years were surveyed and tested for sugary drink consumption and muscle strength in this study. The mean age of the subjects was (14.06 ± 0.82) years. The proportions of Chinese adolescents with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption ≥ 3 times/week, 1–2 times/week, and < 1 time/week were 12.23% (3166/25,893), 52.79% (13,670/25,893), and 34.98% (9057/25,893), respectively.

Table 1 Comparison of different types of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Chinese adolescents (% or M ± SD)

The results of this study showed that the differences in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Chinese adolescents were statistically significant when compared across gender, parental education, duration of physical activity, snacking, and mode of commuting to school (χ2 values = 228.570, 51.422, 275.552, 3165.656, and 10.988, p < 0.01). Significant differences were also found when comparing Chinese adolescents with different sugary drinks in terms of height, weight, and body mass index (F-value = 58.043, 102.333, 61.702, p < 0.001).

Table 2 shows that the differences in the detection rates of different muscle strength indices among Chinese adolescents with different sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency were statistically significant when compared in boys, girls, and overall (χ2 values = 65.455, 60.175, 123.518, P < 0.001). Overall, the percentage of Chinese adolescents with higher frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with a muscle index ≥ P25 was lower, at 11.1%.

Table 2 Comparison of different sugar-sweetened beverage consumption Chinese adolescents’ muscle strength index levels (%)

Table 3 shows that whether (Yes = 1, No = 0) the muscle strength index was lower was used as the dependent variable. The frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (< 1 time/week = 1, 1–2 times/week = 2, ≥ 3 times/week = 3) in Chinese adolescents was used as the independent variable. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted by adjusting for relevant confounders. Crude models were not adjusted for relevant confounding variables, and only the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength was analyzed. Model 1 adjusted for age and parental education. Model 2 further adjusted for school commuting patterns, snack intake, duration of physical activity, and BMI based on Model 1. The analysis showed that, overall, Chinese adolescents who consumed 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 positively associated with lower muscle strength compared to those who consumed sugary drinks < 1 time/week (P < 0.01). The same trend was found for boys and girls. It is suggested that the higher the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage among Chinese adolescents, the lower the muscle strength, and the negative correlation exists between the two. The changes of OR values are shown in Fig. 2.

Table 3 Logistic regression analysis of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and muscle strength index among Chinese adolescents (n = 25,893)
Fig. 2
figure 2

Change in OR values of logistic regression analysis of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength index among Chinese adolescents (Model 2)

Discussion

This study found that 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. This result indicates that more than 60% of adolescents in China consume sugary beverages more than once a week or more, indicating that adolescents are facing serious sugary beverage control efforts. However, several studies at home and abroad have found that cross-sectional comparisons between the results of different studies are not possible due to differences in the definition of sugary beverages and the frequency division of the survey, and the amount of consumption [33, 34]. However, overall it can be shown that Chinese adolescents sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is seriously overdosed and face a serious situation. A survey on Chinese adolescents shows that Chinese adolescents aged 6–17 consume about 193.8 g of sugar-sweetened beverages per day, which poses a serious threat to physical and mental health [35]. Studies have also confirmed that 17% of the energy of American adolescents comes from added sugar, with nearly 50% coming from sugary drinks, and that nearly 20% of the group consumes 620 kcal of added sugar per day, with half coming from sugary drinks, posing many health risks [36]. A number of studies have confirmed that excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage among adolescents has led to an increase in various diseases, such as increased overweight and obesity, decreased cognitive function, decreased academic performance, increased chronic diseases, increased dental caries and digestive diseases, and decreased physical fitness levels, which pose serious threats to their physical and mental health [37,38,39,40,41].

Several studies have confirmed that adolescent muscle strength is strongly associated with physical and mental health during adolescence and future health in adulthood [42]. Studies have shown that poor muscle strength is also associated with chronic cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and spinal curvature, which seriously affects adolescents’ health and academic performance and has a negative impact on them [43,44,45]. However, there are more factors that influence muscle strength in adolescents. In addition to the level of exercise, there is a strong correlation with eating behavior. Studies have shown that obese individuals have relatively low muscle strength and especially lower levels of explosive power [46]. The present study showed that the proportion of Chinese adolescents with higher frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with muscle index ≥ P25 was lower, only 11.1%. This result suggests that Chinese adolescents with higher frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption have relatively lower muscle strength.

This study also found that Chinese adolescents with excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption had relatively lower levels of muscle strength. In addition, further logistic regression analysis showed that Chinese adolescents who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages 1–2 times/week and ≥ 3 times/week were positively associated with lower muscle strength compared with those who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages < 1 time/week, and this relationship did not change by gender. This suggests that sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with adolescent muscle strength and has a negative impact on it. The reason for this is that excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption leads to the development of obesity and weight gain affects lower limb muscle strength-based standing long jump performance. The study confirmed that compared to normal weight adolescents, overweight and obese adolescents have a lower level of physical fitness, one of which is the standing long jump, and therefore need to overcome their greater weight resistance to complete the test, which inevitably has a negative impact on their performance [47]. Studies have also confirmed that sugary beverages, which are readily available to adolescents, are the biggest cause of obesity because excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption can lead to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and metabolic diseases, resulting in excessive caloric intake and thus causing obesity to occur [48]. Excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption induces cellular autophagy and telomere shortening, leading to decreased muscle function. Studies have confirmed that excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages leads to an increase in body sugar, which induces cellular autophagy and telomere shortening in humans, accelerating cellular senescence and apoptosis, thereby reducing muscle mass and thus affecting muscle strength and function [49]. A study of adolescents showed that after 30 days of consuming sugary drinks, adolescents gained weight and muscle fat, and insulin and serum glucose levels continued to rise, as did muscle triglyceride and interleukin-6 levels, resulting in a metabolic stress response that led to much higher than normal activation of muscle cell autophagy, causing a decrease in muscle function and strength [50].

However, it is of concern that previous studies on the effects of sugary drinks and muscle strength were higher in boys than in girls, i.e., the risk values were higher in boys than in girls, and this result is not consistent with the present study [50]. The reason may be because, the different studies investigated the consumption of sugary drinks differently, plus the different age and ethnic composition of the groups, which may also be an important reason for the inconsistent results of different studies. For whether there are gender differences in the association between sugary drinks and muscle strength, further investigation and analysis are needed in future studies.

The present study also has some limitations. On the one hand, this study is a cross-sectional study, which can only understand the correlation between sugary drinks and muscle strength, but not the causal relationship between them. On the other hand, this study only investigated the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and the amount and type of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is not clear, so further investigation and analysis are needed in future studies. However, there are some strengths of this study. First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation and analysis of the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and muscle strength in Chinese adolescents, which can help in the intervention and improvement of muscle strength in Chinese adolescents. Second, the survey sample involved different regions of China, and the sample size was relatively large and representative.

Conclusion

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was more common among Chinese adolescents, and there was a negative association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and muscle strength. In the future, we should strengthen adolescent health education, improve health knowledge related to sugar-sweetened beverages, and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. In addition, physical exercise should be strengthened to maintain good exercise and dietary behavior habits to promote the continuous improvement of muscle strength and ensure healthy physical and mental development.

Data Availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in supplementary information files.

Abbreviations

SSB:

Sugar-sweetened beverages

SD:

Standard Deviation

References

  1. Almiray-Soto AL, Denova-Gutierrez E, Lopez-Gonzalez D, Medeiros M, Clark P. Muscle strength reference values and correlation with appendicular muscle Mass in Mexican Children and Adolescents. CALCIFIED TISSUE INT. 2022;111(6):597–610.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen LK, Liu LK, Woo J, Assantachai P, Auyeung TW, Bahyah KS, Chou MY, Chen LY, Hsu PS, Krairit O, et al. Sarcopenia in Asia: consensus report of the asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. J AM MED DIR ASSOC. 2014;15(2):95–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Orsso CE, Tibaes J, Oliveira C, Rubin DA, Field CJ, Heymsfield SB, Prado CM, Haqq AM. Low muscle mass and strength in pediatrics patients: why should we care? CLIN NUTR. 2019;38(5):2002–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ooi PH, Thompson-Hodgetts S, Pritchard-Wiart L, Gilmour SM, Mager DR. Pediatric Sarcopenia: a paradigm in the overall definition of Malnutrition in Children? JPEN-PARENTER ENTER. 2020;44(3):407–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dooley FL, Kaster T, Fitzgerald JS, Walch TJ, Annandale M, Ferrar K, Lang JJ, Smith JJ, Tomkinson GR. A systematic analysis of temporal Trends in the Handgrip Strength of 2,216,320 children and adolescents between 1967 and 2017. SPORTS MED. 2020;50(6):1129–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Or C, Lin JH, Wang H, McGorry RW. Normative data on the one-handed static pull strength of a chinese population and a comparison with american data. Ergonomics. 2016;59(4):526–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sunda M, Gilic B, Peric I, Jurcev SA, Sekulic D. Evidencing the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed Lockdown Measures on Fitness Status in Adolescents: a preliminary Report. HEALTHCARE-BASEL 2021, 9(6).

  8. Feng X, Qiu J, Wang Y, Wen X, Bai L, Yu H. Impact of COVID-19 on 1000 m running and Pull-Up performance among College Men living in China. INT J ENV RES PUB HE 2022, 19(16).

  9. Scheper M, de Vries J, Beelen A, de Vos R, Nollet F, Engelbert R. Generalized joint hypermobility, muscle strength and physical function in healthy adolescents and young adults. CURR RHEUMATOL REV. 2014;10(2):117–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jones G, Trajanoska K, Santanasto AJ, Stringa N, Kuo CL, Atkins JL, Lewis JR, Duong T, Hong S, Biggs ML, et al. Genome-wide meta-analysis of muscle weakness identifies 15 susceptibility loci in older men and women. NAT COMMUN. 2021;12(1):654.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Wilkinson DJ, Piasecki M, Atherton PJ. The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function: measurement and physiology of muscle fibre atrophy and muscle fibre loss in humans. AGEING RES REV. 2018;47:123–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Sabatino A, Cuppari L, Stenvinkel P, Lindholm B, Avesani CM. Sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease: what have we learned so far? J NEPHROL. 2021;34(4):1347–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mohammadpour S, Ghanbari M, Shahinfar H, Gholami F, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S. The association between healthy lifestyle score with cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. INT J CLIN PRACT. 2020;74(12):e13640.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Paoli A, Cenci L, Pompei P, Sahin N, Bianco A, Neri M, Caprio M, Moro T. Effects of Two Months of Very Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, Muscle Area, and Blood Parameters in Competitive Natural Body Builders. NUTRIENTS 2021, 13(2).

  15. Ramsey KA, Rojer A, D’Andrea L, Otten R, Heymans MW, Trappenburg MC, Verlaan S, Whittaker AC, Meskers C, Maier AB. The association of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior with skeletal muscle strength and muscle power in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AGEING RES REV. 2021;67:101266.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Singh GM, Micha R, Khatibzadeh S, Shi P, Lim S, Andrews KG, Engell RE, Ezzati M, Mozaffarian D. Global, Regional, and National Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Fruit Juices, and milk: a systematic Assessment of Beverage Intake in 187 countries. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(8):e124845.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Malik VS, Hu FB. The role of sugar-sweetened beverages in the global epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases. NAT REV ENDOCRINOL. 2022;18(4):205–18.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Yang L, Bovet P, Liu Y, Zhao M, Ma C, Liang Y, Xi B. Consumption of Carbonated Soft Drinks among Young Adolescents aged 12 to 15 years in 53 low- and Middle-Income Countries. AM J PUBLIC HEALTH. 2017;107(7):1095–100.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu XT, Xiong JY, Xu YJ, Zhao L, Libuda L, Cheng G. Prospective association of family members’ sugar-sweetened beverages intake with children’s sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in China. EUR J NUTR 2022.

  20. Association CBI. 2018 China Beverage Industry Sustainable Development Report. Beijing; 2018.

  21. Mullee A, Romaguera D, Pearson-Stuttard J, Viallon V, Stepien M, Freisling H, Fagherazzi G, Mancini FR, Boutron-Ruault MC, Kuhn T, et al. Association between soft drink consumption and mortality in 10 european countries. JAMA INTERN MED. 2019;179(11):1479–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Grossman DC, Bibbins-Domingo K, Curry SJ, Barry MJ, Davidson KW, Doubeni CA, Epling JJ, Kemper AR, Krist AH, Kurth AE, et al. Screening for obesity in children and adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC. 2017;317(23):2417–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Malik VS, Hu FB. Fructose and Cardiometabolic Health: what the evidence from Sugar-Sweetened Beverages tells us. J AM COLL CARDIOL. 2015;66(14):1615–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Joh HK, Lee DH, Hur J, Nimptsch K, Chang Y, Joung H, Zhang X, Rezende L, Lee JE, Ng K et al. Simple Sugar and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake During Adolescence and Risk of Colorectal Cancer Precursors. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2021, 161(1):128–142.

  25. Hur J, Otegbeye E, Joh HK, Nimptsch K, Ng K, Ogino S, Meyerhardt JA, Chan AT, Willett WC, Wu K, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset colorectal cancer among women. Gut. 2021;70(12):2330–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rosinger AY, Bethancourt H, Francis LA. Association of Caloric Intake from Sugar-Sweetened Beverages with Water Intake among US children and young adults in the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA PEDIATR. 2019;173(6):602–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Bonnard C, Durand A, Peyrol S, Chanseaume E, Chauvin MA, Morio B, Vidal H, Rieusset J. Mitochondrial dysfunction results from oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle of diet-induced insulin-resistant mice. J CLIN INVEST. 2008;118(2):789–800.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang D, Lee JH, Shin HE, Kwak SE, Bae JH, Tang L, Song W. The Effects of Exercise and Restriction of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on muscle function and Autophagy Regulation in High-Fat high-Sucrose-Fed obesity mice. DIABETES METAB J. 2021;45(5):773–86.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Roesler A, Rojas N, Falbe J. Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption, perceptions, and disparities in children and adolescents. J NUTR EDUC BEHAV. 2021;53(7):553–63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Lu J, Sun H, Liu N, Qiu J, Xia X. Correlations between muscle strength and psychological health in chinese adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis. PEERJ. 2022;10:e14133.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. CNSSCH Association. Report on the 2014th National Survey on Students’Constitution and Health. Beijing: China College & University Press; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Woolford SJ, Sidell M, Li X, Else V, Young DR, Resnicow K, Koebnick C. Changes in body Mass Index among Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC. 2021;326(14):1434–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Muth ND, Dietz WH, Magge SN, Johnson RK. Public Policies to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption in Children and Adolescents. PEDIATRICS 2019, 143(4).

  34. Sylvetsky AC, Visek AJ, Halberg S, Rhee DK, Ongaro Z, Essel KD, Dietz WH, Sacheck J. Beyond taste and easy access: physical, cognitive, interpersonal, and emotional reasons for sugary drink consumption among children and adolescents. APPETITE. 2020;155:104826.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Xu X, Piao W, Fang H, Guo Q, Ju L, Cai S, Li S, Cheng X, Zhao L, Yu D. Beverage Consumption of Children and Adolescents aged 6–17 years - China, 2016–2017. CHINA CDC WEEKLY. 2021;3(13):279–84.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Powell ES, Smith-Taillie LP, Popkin BM. Added Sugars Intake across the distribution of US children and adult consumers: 1977–2012. J ACAD NUTR DIET. 2016;116(10):1543–50.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Mensink G, Schienkiewitz A, Rabenberg M, Borrmann A, Richter A, Haftenberger M. Consumption of sugary soft drinks among children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the cross-sectional KiGGS Wave 2 study and trends. J Health Monit. 2018;3(1):31–7.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Koma JW, Vercammen KA, Jarlenski MP, Frelier JM, Bleich SN. Sugary drink consumption among children by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Status. AM J PREV MED. 2020;58(1):69–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Audain K, Levy L, Ellahi B. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in the early years and implications for type-2 diabetes: a sub-saharan Africa context. P NUTR SOC. 2019;78(4):547–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Miller CL, Dono J, Scully M, Morley B, Ettridge K. Adolescents report low opposition towards policy options to reduce consumption of sugary drinks. PEDIATR OBES. 2021;16(8):e12775.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Sampasa-Kanyinga H, Hamilton HA, Chaput JP. Sleep duration and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and energy drinks among adolescents. NUTRITION. 2018;48:77–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Merino-Andres J, Garcia DMA, Damiano DL, Sanchez-Sierra A. Effect of muscle strength training in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CLIN REHABIL. 2022;36(1):4–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Seo YG, Lim H, Kim Y, Ju YS, Lee HJ, Jang HB, Park SI, Park KH. The Effect of a Multidisciplinary Lifestyle Intervention on Obesity Status, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Children and Adolescents with Obesity. NUTRIENTS 2019, 11(1).

  44. Cobo-Vicente F, San JA, Larumbe-Zabala E, Estevez-Gonzalez AJ, Donadio M, Perez-Ruiz M. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation improves muscle strength, Biomechanics of Movement, and functional mobility in Children with Chronic Neurological Disorders: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. PHYS THERAPY 2021, 101(10).

  45. Pierce KC, Hornsby WG, Stone MH. Weightlifting for children and adolescents: a narrative review. SPORTS HEALTH. 2022;14(1):45–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Todendi PF, Brand C, de Castro SJ, Burns RD, Martinez JA, Fiegenbaum M, Reis GA, Pollo RJ, Reuter CP, de Moura VA. Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscular Strength Moderates the Relationship between FNDC5 Polymorphism and Adiposity in Children and Adolescents. INT J ENV RES PUB HE 2021, 18(18).

  47. Hacker AL, Bigras JL, Henderson M, Barnett TA, Mathieu ME. Motor skills of children and adolescents with obesity and severe Obesity-A CIRCUIT study. J STRENGTH COND RES. 2020;34(12):3577–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Mayer-Davis E, Leidy H, Mattes R, Naimi T, Novotny R, Schneeman B, Kingshipp BJ, Spill M, Cole NC, Bahnfleth CL, et al. Beverage Consumption and Growth, size, body composition, and risk of overweight and obesity: a systematic review. Alexandria (VA): USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Leung CW, Laraia BA, Needham BL, Rehkopf DH, Adler NE, Lin J, Blackburn EH, Epel ES. Soda and cell aging: associations between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and leukocyte telomere length in healthy adults from the National Health and Nutrition examination surveys. AM J PUBLIC HEALTH. 2014;104(12):2425–31.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Braganca M, Coelho C, Oliveira BR, Bogea EG, Confortin SC, Silva A. The Frequency of Daily Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated with Reduced Muscle Mass Index in Adolescents. NUTRIENTS 2022, 14(22).

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all participants and their parents for their cooperation in our research. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

The research is supported by the national general project of the 13th five-year plan of National Education Science: Research on Rural School Development (NO. bha170138).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

YJZ, NM wrote and edited the manuscript. YJZ, NM conceived the idea, proposed the research design, and provided revisions on the paper. YJZ, NM, PX, YJS and JKL played a role in participants recruitment and data collection.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nan Ma.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All methods were performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This research investigation was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of Shangrao Normal University (2018R-0219).

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Y., Xu, P., Song, Y. et al. Association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption frequency and muscle strength: results from a sample of Chinese adolescents. BMC Public Health 23, 1010 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15987-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15987-z

Keywords