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. 2012 Sep;102(9):1630-3.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300719. Epub 2012 Jul 19.

Reducing childhood obesity by eliminating 100% fruit juice

Janet M Wojcicki  1 , Melvin B Heyman
Affiliations

Reducing childhood obesity by eliminating 100% fruit juice

Janet M Wojcicki et al. Am J Public Health. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 presents an opportunity to change the nutritional quality of foods served in low-income childcare centers, including Head Start centers. Excessive fruit juice consumption is associated with increased risk for obesity. Moreover, there is recent scientific evidence that sucrose consumption without the corresponding fiber, as is commonly present in fruit juice, is associated with the metabolic syndrome, liver injury, and obesity. Given the increasing risk of obesity among preschool children, we recommend that the US Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Food Care Program, which manages the meal patterns in childcare centers such as Head Start, promote the elimination of fruit juice in favor of whole fruit for children.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
A timeline of events: restriction and elimination of US children’s 100% fruit juice consumption.
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Comment in

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