Go Back More Articles
Soft Drink Explosion Among Kids
Products
Catalog
Studies link rise in soda consumption to childhood obesity
The consumption of soft drinks by
American youth is increasing.
National dietary surveys show that carbonated soft drink
consumption more than doubled in youths aged 6 to 17 from about 5 ounces per day in 1977-78 to 12 ounces in
1994-98, the most recent years for which national data is available. Adolescent boys' soft drink consumption more
than tripled during those years.
There are at least two negative results
to this soft drink explosion.
First, the use of soft drinks is likely
related to the rise in childhood obesity. A variety of studies
suggest that we don't eat fewer calories from other sources when we
increase calories from beverages. If a child drinks 9 to 10 ounces of a soft drink, that's equivalent to almost 120
calories.
One study shows that youth who drink 9 ounces or more of soda a
day consume almost 200 calories more each day than those who skip these beverages. If this amount of
calories is consistently added to a youth's normal daily food intake, it can cause gradual weight gain. A
small study of children 6 to 13 years old showed that they gained a quarter- to a half-pound per week over four
to eight weeks when they drank more than 12 ounces a day of soft drinks.
In addition to the problem of weight
gain, when children drink more soft drinks, they may drink less
of beverages like 100 percent fruit juice and milk.
A child's nutrient intake would drop as
a result.
Younger children seem to be particularly at risk. In
one study, preschoolers who drank nine or more ounces of soft drinks
per day were almost four times as likely to drink less than 8 ounces of milk per day.
In general, kids who drink the most
soft drinks get only about three-quarters of the calcium
that non consumers of these drinks do.
Those who drink more soft
drinks also drink less fruit juice, so they get less vitamins A and C, too. Limit 'screen time'
To reverse current trends, it may be helpful to limit children's
TV viewing. A new study indicates that the odds of drinking soft drinks almost daily was twice as
likely for those children who watched more than 3.5 hours of television a day. Researchers believe that the
increase is related to soft drink advertising.
For a child's proper development, the American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends limiting total "screen time," which includes use of computers and video games, to
no more than two hours a day. Observing this two-hour, screen-viewing limit could diminish a child's use of
soft drinks.
Another influence that parents can
control is their own behavior. If parents drink soft drinks
three or more times a week, their children are three times more likely to
drink five or more per week than kids whose parents drink less often. Obviously, it can be hard for children
to see why they should drink milk, juice, or water at meals and snacks while parents drink a soda. The
availability of soft drinks at home and soft drink vending machines in schools also affect children's soft
drink consumption.
While the habits of children's friends can make a difference, the parent's influence is
stronger, according to the research.
Although soft drink consumption among
children has received the most critical attention in studies,
the wide popularity of sports drinks, fruit drinks with only 5 to 20
percent juice and sweetened drinks made from powdered mixes are also concerns. These drinks carry extra
calories and decrease children's consumption of nutrient-dense drinks. Parents should restrict
these drinks as well.
Nutrition Notes is provided by the American
Institute for Cancer Research in
Washington, D.C.© 2004 MSNBC Interactive
| 
