Fluid Intake in Male Brazilian Teens according to Recommendations for Age, BMI and Physical Activity Patterns – The Fitfood Study
Authors: Machado Rachel HV , Iglesia Iris , Martinelli Caroline , Rocha Ana Carolina Lavio , Hartwick Carol Anne , Pires Ana , Fisberg Mauro , Moreno Luis 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Healthy lifestyle during adolescence is essential to ensure adequate growth and prevention of chronic diseases, such as obesity. Water intake should be monitored at this age, since there is special fluid needs compared to adults to prevent metabolism impairment, especially during physical activity (PA). Low water intake among adolescents has been reported worldwide, in preference to the increasing consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages.

Objectives

To assess water and sugar‐sweetened beverages intake of Brazilian adolescents, and to compare them according to recommendations for age, BMI, PA patterns and sedentary behaviours.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study with 1.190 Brazilian male adolescents aged 10–12 years old, enrolled in a sports competition, after parental consent. Data on water and sugary beverages consumption (mL/day and frequency in days/week), weekly physical activity and daily screen time in minutes (WHO 2014), and Body Mass Index (BMI) (WHO 2007) were gathered through an adapted self‐administered validated questionnaire (Stralen et al, 2011). General Linear model, t‐ Student and chi‐squared test were performed, with significance level of 5%.

Results

About 25% of teens reported daily intake of fizzy drinks (p25 250ml; p75 500ml), and 33.4% reported fruit squashes intake 5x/week (p25 200ml; p75 400ml). There was an inverse relationship between frequency in the consumption of sugary drinks and water intake (p = 0.022). Average water intake was 785ml, corresponding to 46% of recommendations for age (−916ml, 95% CI 895–936; p = 0.000). Average total fluid intake is at ± 1600ml/day. Participants were 29% excessive weight (overweight and obesity combined), and there was higher water consumption among obese teens compared to eutrophic (160ml, 95% CI 9.16 – 311; p = 0.031). Pattern of weekly physical activity (mean 226 minutes) was considered insufficient, and profile of less than 2 hours of daily screen time was found (70%). There was no association between the amount of fluid consumption and screen time or weekly physical activity. Overweight adolescents were more likely to consume sugary drinks at least once a day (p = 0.022).

Discussion and conclusions

Analysis showed adequate BMI and insufficient physical activity patterns. Participants showed insufficient contributions of water to total fluid intake coupled with high intake levels of sugar‐sweetened beverages. Composition of fluid intake is clearly unbalanced and may contribute to discouragement of healthy habits, aside from increasing risk of obesity and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes in both youth and adulthood. This highlights the need for the development of strategies to educate and encourage water intake over sugar‐sweetened drinks.

Support or Funding Information

The tournament from which children were approached to the study is promoted By Danone annually (Danone Nations Cup) for children 10–12 years old. Danone Institute International funded the study.