Purpose

This study examined the association of free sugar (FS) intake with obesity measures and blood pressure (BP) among a nationally representative sample of Australian adults.

Methods

Data from adults (weighted n = 5136) who completed 2 × 24-h recalls and had complete data for BP, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Associations between percentage energy of FS from all food sources (%EFS total ), beverages only (%EFS beverages ), and non-beverages sources only (%EFS non-beverages ) and obesity measures and BP were examined using linear and non-linear regressions. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (OR) of being classified as overweight and/or obese, having increased cardiometabolic risks, and elevated BP per 5% point increase in %EFS total , %EFS beverages , and %EFS non-beverages . All regression analyses were adjusted for known socio-economic and lifestyle confounders.

Results

%EFS beverage was positively associated with BMI, WC, and WHtR (all p < 0.05), while %EFS non-beverage was inversely associated with these outcomes. Increases in odds of having an undesirable WC/WHtR were found with increasing %EFS beverages (OR per 5% point increase in %EFS beverages : 1.19 for WC; 1.23 for WHtR, both p < 0.001). %EFS total and %EFS non-beverages were weakly and negatively associated with diastolic BP. A 5% point increase in %EFS total and %EFS non-beverage was associated with a 10–25% reduction in odds of having elevated BP.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that only a higher FS intake from beverages may be associated with obesity, and higher FS intake was associated with reduced odds of having elevated BP.