Assessing Intake of Water and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Adolescents: its Relationship with Weight Status.

Background and aims. The aim of the study is to evaluate fluid intake during adolescence and correlate it with weight status. Material and methods. We assessed fluid intake using a validated questionnaire in a group of 106 adolescent students (22 boys - 20.8%), aged 15-19 years. Weight status was evaluated with the BMI-for-age values,using growth normograms. Results. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of water intake between sexes (p>0.05). Water intake at least 3 times a day was declared by 72.16% of normal weight students and in 66% of overweight and obese, the difference being statistically significant (p=0.003). Boys consumed larger amounts of water (p=0.042) than girls. Intake of 100% natural fruit juice was significantly higher in boys compared to girls (p=0.002). A significantly higher percentage of normal weight adolescents consumed≤500 mL/day non-carbonated (p=0.004) and carbonated (p<0.001) sugar-sweetened beverages compared to the overweight or obese, who consumed ≥500 mL/day. Conclusions. The quantitative and qualitative assessment of fluid intake among adolescents is a mandatory step in the assessment of calorie and nutritional intake. Promoting low-calorie fluid intake in this age group, along with the principles of healthy eating, could contribute to achieving an optimal weight status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]