Children's propensity to consume sugar and fat predicts regular alcohol consumption in adolescence.

Objective: The present study investigated the association between sugar and fat
intake in childhood in relation to alcohol use in adolescence. We hypothesized
that early exposure to diets high in fat and sugar may affect ingestive behaviours
later in life, including alcohol use.
Design/Setting/Subjects: Children from the European IDEFICS/I.Family cohort
study were examined at ages 5-9 years and followed up at ages 11-16 years. FFQ
were completed by parents on behalf of children, and later by adolescents
themselves. Complete data were available in 2263 participants. Children's
propensities to consume foods high in fat and sugar were calculated and
dichotomized at median values. Adolescents' use of alcohol was classified as at
least weekly v. less frequent use. Log-binomial regression linked sugar and fat
consumption in childhood to risk of alcohol use in adolescence, adjusted for
relevant covariates.
Results: Five per cent of adolescents reported weekly alcohol consumption.
Children with high propensity to consume sugar and fat were at greater risk of
later alcohol use, compared with children with low fat and low sugar propensity
(relative risk=2·46; 95% CI 1·47, 4·12), independent of age, sex and survey
country. The association was not explained by parental income and education,
strict parenting style or child's health-related quality of life and was only partly
mediated by sustained consumption of sugar and fat into adolescence.
Conclusions: Frequent consumption of foods high in fat and sugar in childhood
predicted regular use of alcohol in adolescence.