Sodas Keep Child Obesity Soaring

Robert Preidt, "Sodas Keep Child Obesity Soaring", Forbes, May 11,
2005,
Link:
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/heal...out525647.html

The ballooning weight of American youth may be driven, at least in
part, by the sugary fizz of soda pop.

A new review of data and expert opinion suggests soft drink consumption
greatly increases the risk of childhood obesity, according to
researchers reporting in the May issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

For example, "the typical teen consumes approximately two 12-ounce cans
of soda per day, containing 300 calories and 20 teaspoons of sugar,"
study lead author Dr. Robert Murray, of Columbus Children's Hospital in
Ohio, said in a prepared statement.

Current guidelines recommend a limit of 10 percent of daily calories
from added sugars, yet foods like soft drinks now account for 18 to 20
percent of children's daily calories, Murray's team reports.

The researchers reviewed various sources such as articles, statements
and editorials from researchers and soft drink industry
representatives. While no single factor can be pinpointed as the sole
cause of childhood obesity, the review revealed a correlation between
soft drink consumption and the risk of childhood obesity.

The review found that children seem to be selecting soft drinks or
sweetened fruit drinks instead of milk.

Consumption of soft drinks in schools can lead to obesity, according
the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on School Health. However,
one of the studies in this review found that half of 523 school
districts surveyed had a contract with a soft drink company in place.
Two-thirds of those school districts were given incentives by the soft
drink company, while nearly 80 percent of those school districts
received a percentage of soft drink sales.

Schools should "strengthen existing programs such as the school
breakfast program, the national school lunch program, classroom
nutrition instruction, daily physical fitness instruction, intramural
sports, and after-school programs," instead of signing contracts with
soft drink companies, Murray said in a prepared statement.

I bet its more than soda .....


Joel



"Roman Bystrianyk" wrote in message
oups.com...
Robert Preidt, "Sodas Keep Child Obesity Soaring", Forbes, May 11,
2005,
Link:

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/heal...1/hscout525647.
html

The ballooning weight of American youth may be driven, at least in
part, by the sugary fizz of soda pop.

A new review of data and expert opinion suggests soft drink consumption
greatly increases the risk of childhood obesity, according to
researchers reporting in the May issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

For example, "the typical teen consumes approximately two 12-ounce cans
of soda per day, containing 300 calories and 20 teaspoons of sugar,"
study lead author Dr. Robert Murray, of Columbus Children's Hospital in
Ohio, said in a prepared statement.

Current guidelines recommend a limit of 10 percent of daily calories
from added sugars, yet foods like soft drinks now account for 18 to 20
percent of children's daily calories, Murray's team reports.

The researchers reviewed various sources such as articles, statements
and editorials from researchers and soft drink industry
representatives. While no single factor can be pinpointed as the sole
cause of childhood obesity, the review revealed a correlation between
soft drink consumption and the risk of childhood obesity.

The review found that children seem to be selecting soft drinks or
sweetened fruit drinks instead of milk.

Consumption of soft drinks in schools can lead to obesity, according
the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on School Health. However,
one of the studies in this review found that half of 523 school
districts surveyed had a contract with a soft drink company in place.
Two-thirds of those school districts were given incentives by the soft
drink company, while nearly 80 percent of those school districts
received a percentage of soft drink sales.

Schools should "strengthen existing programs such as the school
breakfast program, the national school lunch program, classroom
nutrition instruction, daily physical fitness instruction, intramural
sports, and after-school programs," instead of signing contracts with
soft drink companies, Murray said in a prepared statement.