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 (≥2 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 ≥ 40.0 kg/m2)
* Dislike of experimental beverage taste (assessed at initial visit)
* Asthma that requires daily use of inhalers to keep symptoms under control.
* Asthma that requires use of rescue inhalers (e.g., albuterol) \>2 days per week
* Exercise induced asthma.
* Autism spectrum disorder (e.g., Autistic disorder, Rett disorder, Asperger disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
* Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) currently under medication.
* Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
* Epilepsy.
* Cancer.
* Chronic kidney disease.
* Endocrine disorder (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 the investigators to affect the outcomes of interest.
* If, during the screening or consent process, the parent or child expresses refusal to have blood drawn. However, participants may remain in the study if after initially agreeing to the blood draw and enrolling they change their minds and choose not to allow blood draws or if blood draws are unsuccessful.
* Dislike of study products assessed at initial visit.
* Fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl at enrollment.
* Fasting A1C ≥6.5% at enrollment
* Less than 2 months since completion of antibiotics