Soda-guzzling called part of child obesity

By Sarah Fritschner
Gannett News Service

The rise in childhood obesity and its poor health consequences leave many parents wondering how to adjust their family's lifestyle.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some advice. Calling being overweight "the most common medical condition of childhood," the academy's January journal calls a high intake of soft drinks one big culprit — saying that contributes to weight gain, displaces milk's dietary benefits and results in more cavities and eroding tooth enamel.

Soda consumption, including athletic drinks and fruit-flavored drinks, is reported to have tripled in the last 30 years.

Boys 12 to 19 years old are estimated to drink an average of 2 1/2 12-ounce sodas per day; girls drink about 1fl sodas per day.

A 20-ounce bottle of Slice contains 20 1/2 teaspoons of sugar; Fruitopia has 18; Coke Classic has 16 1/2.

The increased consumption, attributed in part to the increase in the size of the "normal" soda container from 6 1/2 ounces in the 1950s to 20 ounces today, can be linked directly to increased weight, according to the journal.

Cutting down on the amount of soda you consume can increase your chances of maintaining normal weight and avoiding dental problems and the health problems of being overweight.