Healthy Caribbean Coalition - The Negative Impact of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Children’s Health
Healthy Eating Research Building evidence to prevent childhood obesity.
During the past four decades, the obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 has more than quadrupled, from 4.2 percent to 17 percent, and more than tripled for adolescents ages 12 to 19, from 4.6 percent to 17.6 percent. A substantial body of research has determined that increased SSB consumption leads to excess weight gain and a higher risk of obesity among youth.
Over nearly the past 30 years, U.S. children and adolescents have dramatically increased their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), including soda, fruit drinks and punches, and sports drinks (see sidebar for a more complete definition). Such consumption has been linked to less healthy diets and a number of other negative health consequences, including decreased bone density, dental decay, headaches, anxiety and loss of sleep. Interventions to lower SSB consumption have been linked to lower risk of overweight, and weight loss among overweight adolescents.
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