Curbing Cola Consumption in Kids
Food for Thought:
Two new articles in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association examined the factors that influence kids’ beverage selection at home and at school. The first article described the results of a study that involved 560 children and adolescents ages 8 to 13, and the second article offered advice on how to apply the study findings to heighten awareness of soft-drink consumption.
More than 80% of the children studied reported weekly soft-drink consumption from once a week to 5–6 times per week, including 30% reporting that they drank soda every day. Characteristics shared by those who regularly drank soft drinks included having parents and peers who also consumed the beverages; watching 3.5 hours of television each day; and having ready access to such drinks at home and at school.
The authors of both articles recommended that health professionals and/or parents take the following steps to curb kids’ consumption of these sugary beverages:
- Increase kids’ awareness of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as poor diet.
- Provide healthful alternative beverages, like water and milk.
- Limit daily television viewing.
- Remind kids—especially teens—about the number of calories in each soda they drink.
- Consider policies and regulations to limit the availability of soft drinks in schools.
- Encourage the creation of public service messages that get these points across to kids in a way they can easily understand.
November 2004
© 2004 by IDEA Health & Fitness Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
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