It is unarguable that the ultimate reason for excessive weight gain in children is energy imbalance.
A study conducted in United Kingdom revealed that more than 70 percent of adolescents consume carbonated drinks regularly.
With an aim to preventing obesity, a project took place in 6 schools with children aged between 7 to 11 years between August 2001 and October 2003. Anthropometric measurements (that is height, weight and waist circumference) were taken at intervals of 6 months. Doing so was to discourage the consumption of fizzy drinks. After 12 months, consumption of carbonated drinks had decreased in the intervention group.
The above finding concluded that a school-based program to discourage children from drinking carbonated drinks can in fact help reduce the number of overweight and obese children in school.
Interestingly, just small changes in energy intake can have a major impact on obesity risk. For example, daily consumption of 1 can of sweetened carbonated drink over a 10-year period can actually cause a person to gain up to 50 kg of weight. Conversely, reducing one's daily intake of such sweetened drinks may help prevent weight gain. As we all know, maintaining healthy weight may cut down the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and other unhealthy issues.
Obese Children are becoming an epidemic! Where are the parents?
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