No impact of a daily glass of fruit juice on adult body weight

Balancing the results from high-quality studies on both sides of the debate, the study looked at whether drinking fruit juice is generally good or bad for our health, including whether it affects weight management.

With a typical 150 mL glass of fruit juice containing about 60 kcal, this equates to just 3% of the EU’s daily guidance for adult calorie intake. Despite this, fruit juice often gets the blame for playing a part in the development of obesity.

However, the evidence reviewed by the study authors found that regular fruit juice consumption in adults does not cause weight gain or increase the risk of obesity. Indeed, randomized controlled trials testing daily fruit juice intakes of 250–750 mL for four to 12 weeks showed no significant weight gain. It is also worth noting that these volumes exceed recommended intakes so a typical 150-200 mL glass would have even less of an impact.

The authors recommend further studies examining the effect of regular fruit juice consumption longer term, and in children since there are no controlled studies. In the meantime, they conclude: “there seems to be no justification for discouraging moderate consumption of fruit juice within a balanced diet or classifying fruit juice as a sugary beverage alongside sugar-sweetened beverages.”

Reference

Ruxton C & Myers M (2021). Fruit Juices: Are They Helpful or Harmful? An Evidence Review. Nutrients. 13, 1815.