Curiously Awesome

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics show the prevalence of obesity among all age groups and ethnic groups is growing at an alarming rate.

There is a simple way to reduce the excess intake of calories that contributes to obesity. The solution isn’t a new drug either. It is simply to drink more water instead of other beverages.

A study analyzed what children and teens reported they ate and drank over two different days. The result of the data suggests that drinking water instead of sugary drinks could eliminate an average of 235 excess calories every day among children and adolescents.

Encouraging physical activity among children and teens is important. If they were to eliminate extra calories from sugary drinks they might be able to tip the energy balance in a major way.

Approximately 90 % of US young people consume sugar-laden drinks every day. These drinks include soda, fruit drinks, punches, sports drinks and sweetened tea. The calories these drinks contain adds up to approximately 10 percent or more of the their total daily intake.

This study shows what an impact replacing sugar laden beverages with water could have. Changes such as this one might result in significant benefits for the population as a whole.