More reports were released today concerning youth and soda pop consumption. This time the issue is with advertising targeting children. Soda pop is not the only issue these days...energy drinks, vitamin drinks, fruit-based drinks and any specialty beverage that contains a lot of refined sugar. It isn't television that you have to be concerned about; it's advertising on the internet especially YouTube and Facebook.
Ann Arbor based University of Michigan Hospitals and St. Joseph Mercy doctors can tell you about the epidemic we have concerning obese kids. It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), that obesity in American youth is now around 15 percent. That is a staggering number!
Sugar has a lot of calories and certainly not good for healthy teeth and gums. Some beverages contain 2 to 2.5 servings per bottle or can. The total calories listed are misleading because the Nutrition Facts panel will only list the amount of calories for one serving. If you drink the entire container you have to multiply the number of calories by the total number of servings to get an exact picture of just how many calories you are consuming.
Find out more at the Sugary Drink Facts website:
http://www.sugarydrinkfacts.org/
Maybe living by example and empowering teens to make wise diet choices will help decrease the amount of sugar these kids consume. Providing better Health classes and putting more of a priority on those classes will educate teens on how the body processes nutrients. Currently, Health is considered a 1/2 credit blow-off class. Employing dietitians to teach Health, Nutrition and Human Physiology at all grade levels will also help educate the population and produce a new generation of adults that are aware of how the body works.
This may help decrease the casual, munching, sedentary, game-playing lifestyle. But, it will not help kids with underlying emotional disorders. It, also, will not completely wipe-out obesity and therefore, we need to discuss teasing and prejudice against kids who are overweight. Respect should always be modeled and encouraged.
Be Well!
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