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News Alert Archives
New Study Links Over-consumption of Soft and Fruit Drinks to Childhood Obesity
Rosemont, Ill., February 17, 2001 - Childhood obesity in the U.S. is on the rise and new research shows a possible connection between this serious epidemic and the over-consumption of nutrient-zeroes such as soft drinks. According to a new study published today in The Lancet , children who consumed more sugary beverages may be at greater risk for becoming obese.
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health looked at 548 ethnically diverse 11 to 12 year-old children and examined their dietary intakes over a two-year period. The results showed that those children who increased their intake of sugar-laden beverages like soft drinks had increased body weight. Additionally, the odds for becoming obese among these children increased 1.6 times for each additional can or glass of soft drink that was consumed each day.
"When kids over-consume nutrient-free beverages like soda, it crowds out nutrient-rich beverages like milk that provide calcium, protein and 7 other vitamins and minerals," says Greg Miller, Ph.D., F.A.C.N., vice-president of nutrition research, National Dairy Council. "In addition to the obesity risk, missing out on nutrient-rich milk during key bone building years could put kids at risk for developing osteoporosis later in life."
To help satisfy a child's sweet tooth, offer beverages that provide a taste kids love as well as nutrition. Chocolate milk contains all the same nutrients as white milk and has half the amount of added sugar found in regular soft drinks and many fruit drinks.
For more information about the importance of calcium-rich milk for children, visit www.whymilk.com or www.familyfoodzone.com. For additional dairy research, visit www.nationaldairycouncil.org.
You can rely on the National Dairy Council for credible,
up-to-date news on dairy nutrition research, public policies on nutritional
issues and special dairy nutrition campaigns. Please browse the
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have additional questions, please contact our Nutrition & Health News
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