Impact of a School-Based Intervention on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Substitution by Water in Mexican Scholars.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children has increased in recent years, associated with substituting plain water intake with sugar-sweetened beverages. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a school-based intervention that aimed to replace sugar-sweetened beverages with water on Mexican scholars. METHODS: We included 314 children aged 9-11 from three public schools of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, randomized to intervention (two schools from the municipality of Apan; six classes with 146 participants) or control group (one school from the municipality of Emiliano Zapata; six classes with 168 participants) and followed for 6 months. The intervention consisted of placing drinking fountains at schools and classrooms with nutritional education lessons to increase water consumption and decrease sugar-sweetened beverages. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to assess the impact of the intervention. RESULTS: At the end of the study, water consumption was higher (200 mL/day, p = 0.005), and flavored milk consumption was lower (94 mL/day, p = 0.044) in the intervention group compared with the control group. There was also a statistically significant reduction in energy (p = 0.016) and sugar intake (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The school-based intervention favorably modified the consumption pattern of sugar-sweetened beverages and water in Mexican students.

Abnormal fluid distribution and low handgrip strength index as predictors of mortality in Mexican patients with chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: In patients with heart failure, fluid alteration and low muscle strength frequently coexist because of their reduced physical activity and sedentary behavior; however, few studies have evaluated the effects of this coexistence on the prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the independent association between fluid alteration and the low handgrip strength (HGS) index with mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: This observational study included 546 (53.3% male) stable outpatients with heart failure. The presence of an abnormal fluid distribution was determined with a bioelectrical impedance ratio (200/5 kHz) ≥0.85. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured with a hand dynamometer, and the HGS index was calculated by dividing the HGS (kg) by the squared height (meters). A low HGS index was defined if men had <10.1 and women <7.95 kg/m2. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 60.75 ± 17 y, and 30% were classified with a low HGS index, 9.5% with an abnormal fluid distribution, and 29% with both. During the 36 mo of follow-up, 16.5% of the participants reached the endpoint. In men but not in women, coexistence of a low HGS index and abnormal fluid distribution were independently associated with all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 2.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.25-6.4; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In men with heart failure, co-existence of a low HGS index and abnormal fluid distribution was independently associated with all-cause mortality.