Detailed Nutrition Information
100% Orange Juice and Weight in Children and Adults
Clinical studies have reported that
100% orange juice intake had no negative effects on BMI, waist circumference, body weight or body composition in adults (including large amounts of approximately 25 to 33 ounces per day for four to 12 weeks).
5-10 Cross-sectional studies reported that men and women who consumed orange juice had significantly lower BMI and a lower percentage categorized as obese, or overweight or obese, compared to adults not consuming orange juice.
29,30
A cross-sectional analysis of more than 26,000 children and adolescents in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS I and II) cohorts found that in girls, consumption of 100% orange juice was not associated with risk/odds of obesity or overweight/obesity. For boys, there was a significant trend for an inverse association between 100% orange juice consumption and risk or odds of obesity or overweight/obesity, even though overall energy intake (minus orange juice) was higher. 100% orange juice consumption was not associated with BMI in either boys or girls but was positively associated with height, height-for-age, total calorie intake, intake of fruits and non-starchy vegetables and physical activity levels.
22 A longitudinal analysis of the GUTS II cohort (7,301 children and adolescents) examined 2-year changes in OJ intake and various anthropometric and lifestyle factors, including BMI percentile and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ). In adjusted models, increasing OJ intake was associated with greater 2-year change in HAZ (positive direction or greater height change) for girls, but was not significant in boys. In both girls and boys there was no significant trend for increasing OJ consumption categories and 2-year change in BMI percentile.
25 In another analysis of the GUTS II cohort, OJ intake at baseline was inversely associated with 2-year BMI change among preadolescent/adolescent girls but not boys.
28 There was no association between the intake of other fruit juices or milk (low or high fat) and BMI change.
An analysis of NHANES 2013-2016 data concurs with previous results: there were no differences in BMI z-scores or waist circumference between children who consumed
100% orange juice and those who did not. For adults, orange juice consumers had significantly lower BMI and waist circumference.
23 Similarly, a trend analysis of NHANES 2003-2016 data for children reported that despite higher energy intakes, there was no significant difference in physical activity levels, percent overweight or obese, or BMI z-score when comparing OJ consumers and non-consumers.
24 A similar NHANES 2003-2016 analysis evaluating trends in nutrient intake, diet quality, fruit consumption, and weight parameters in children 2-18 years of age across deciles of OJ intake reported similar results.
26
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials related to the effects of hesperidin supplementation or 100% orange juice consumption on anthropometric measures in adults found that orange juice and/or hesperidin had no significant effect on body weight, BMI, fat mass, percent body fat or waist circumference.
32
100% Fruit Juice and Weight in Kids
A comprehensive review performed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for their Evidence Analysis Library examined the association between 100% fruit juice intake and weight in children and concluded that the evidence does not support an association between 100% fruit juice consumption and weight status or adiposity in children ages 2 to 18 years of age.
12
Additional reviews showed no association between 100% fruit juice and weight, BMI, BMI-z-score, ponderal index, or other measures of adiposity in children, after controlling for total energy intake.
11,13,14 A recent study reported 100% fruit juice consumed as the dominant beverage by adolescents was associated with lower BMI and significantly predicted lower weight and BMI in females as they aged.
18 Displacement of 100% fruit juice as the main beverage by other caloric beverages, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, related to higher total caloric intake (and lower fruit, poorer diet quality, and lower nutrient intake) in children and adolescents.
19 An analysis of NHANES 2011-2016 data found no association between the consumption of 100% fruit juice and BMI z-scores in children of any age.
21 Furthermore, 100% fruit juice consumption is not linked with any clinically significant weight gain in children.
14
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that research suggests that fruit juice is not over consumed among many young children.
1 Because there are “no significant independent effects of 100% juice on weight status apart from energy intake,”
4 it is important to be mindful of portion sizes. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum of 4 to 6 ounces per day for children 1 to 7 years of age, and 8 ounces per day for older children and adults.
17
