Weight gain more likely from beverages

NEW ORLEANS, April 24 (UPI) -- Weight gain is more likely to increase as a result of liquid calories, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages, than solid food calories, U.S. researchers said.

Lead author Dr. Liwei Chen of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center said the study reports four principal findings:

• a reduction in liquid calorie intake was significantly associated with weight loss at both six months and 18 months;
• the weight-loss effect of a reduction in liquid calorie intake was stronger than that of a reduction in solid calorie intake;
• a reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage intake was significantly associated with weight loss at both six and 18 months;
• and no other beverage type was associated with weight change.

The findings are published in May 1 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.