Associations of Acculturation With Added Sugars Intake and Weight Status Among Mexican American Adolescents in the United States, <scp>NHANES</scp> , 2009–2018

U.S. acculturation is associated with poor diet quality and obesity. This study examined the association of acculturation with added sugars among Mexican American adolescents, and whether added sugars mediate the association between acculturation and overweight/obesity. Data from NHANES 2009-2018 included 1317 Mexican American adolescents aged 12-19 years. Acculturation was measured by language spoken at home (English vs. Spanish) and birthplace of child and caregiver (United States vs. Mexico). Added sugars intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recall and categorised as 'high' (≥ 10% total energy intake) versus 'low' (< 10%). Multivariable logistic regressions tested associations between acculturation and added sugars, and path analysis evaluated the mediation of added sugars between acculturation and overweight/obesity (≥ 85th BMI percentile). Greater acculturation, indicated by primarily speaking English at home (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.5), caregiver being U.S.-born (2.2; 1.1, 4.2), both child and caregiver U.S.-born (2.8; 1.2, 6.5), or both U.S.-born + English at home (2.9; 1.1, 7.5), was associated with higher odds of high added sugars intake. Added sugars did not mediate the effect of acculturation on obesity/overweight status. These findings suggest that while higher acculturation is associated with excess added sugars intake, future research is needed to clarify how acculturation influences obesity risk.