The Sweet Kids Study (Stevia on Weight and Energy Effect Over Time)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 8-12 years
• Normal weight: BMI percentile ≥5th to <85th
• Excessive weight: BMI percentile ≥ 85th and <140% of the 95th percentile or BMI ≥35 to <40 kg/m2
• Current consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (≥3 times /wk)
• Low consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners (≤ 3 time/wk)
• Willingness to consume experimental products

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with class 3 obesity (i.e., BMI ≥ 140% of the 95th percentile or BMI ≥ 40.0kg/m2)
• Dislike of experimental beverage taste (assessed at initial screening)
• Severe persistent asthma (determined by daily use of inhaler(s) to keep asthmasymptoms under control).
• Exercise induced asthma.
• Autism spectrum disorder (e.g., Autistic disorder, Rett disorder, Asperger disorder,childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwisespecified (PDD-NOS).
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
• Epilepsy.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Hormonal disease (e.g., hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency).
• Autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, thyroiditis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
• Bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia)
• Chronic infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C).
• Mental health disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety).
• Type 2 and type 1 diabetes mellitus.
• Other pre-existing medical conditions or medications as determined by theinvestigators to affect the outcomes of interest.
• Parent/child refusal to have blood drawn.
• Fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl at enrollment.
• Fasting A1C ≥6.5% at enrollment or follow up visits.
• Less than 2 months since completion of antibiotics