Demi
Mon, Mar-06-06, 02:36
The Times
London, UK
6 March, 2006
TEENAGERS who consume a can of sugary drink a day are likely to be up to a stone (14lbs/6.4kg) heavier after a year than those drinking unsweetened versions, research suggests.
A study by American scientists has pointed to the impact of sugar-sweetened drinks on weight, and the global epidemic of childhood obesity. Researchers who monitored the weight of 100 teenagers, half of whom were put on to unsweetened drinks, concluded that a single 330ml can a day of sugary drinks translated to more than 1lb of weight gain every month.
The full effect of sugary drink consumption is revealed in a study published today in the journal Pediatrics. The findings come as experts predict that childhood obesity rates will rise sharply in the next five years, with a profound impact on everything from public health care systems to the economy.
Analysis by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), also released this morning, suggests that by 2010 about 40 per cent of children in the European Union — more than 26 million — will be overweight if trends continue. About a quarter of young people are currently classified as overweight or obese.
Increased consumption of fizzy drinks and squashes — which contain more sugar than any other substance in most children’s diets — has caused particular concern among health experts.
In the Pediatrics study, researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston in the US followed 103 teenagers for six months. Half of the participants received low-calorie drinks, such as bottled waters and “diet” brands, and were instructed to avoid sweet drinks. The remaining teenagers acted as a control group and continued their usual eating and drinking patterns.
After six months, consumption of sugary drinks by the first group had dropped by 82 per cent, while intake in the control group remained unchanged. Other factors, such as physical activity levels and television viewing, did not change in either group.
Researchers found that the heavier the teenager at the start of the trial, the stronger the effect on weight. Among the heaviest third of participants, those receiving lowcalorie drinks had a marked decrease in body mass index (BMI), while the control group had a slight increase.
Cara Ebbeling, co-director of obesity research at Boston, told The Times that the weight difference between the groups showed that drinking a single 330ml sugar-sweetened drink each day could cause 1lb of weight gain every three to four weeks. She said that the study offered compelling evidence of the impact that a simple intervention, such as such as school vending machine bans, could have on obesity.
A report by the Audit Commission, published last week, attacked the Government’s indecision and lack of leadership over the implementation of measures to curb child obesity. Days later the governmentappointed Schools Food Trust indicated that schools would be banned from selling junk food and using vending machines selling high-calorie snacks and drinks. Parents will be issued with advice on what to put in their children’s packed lunches.
The team is starting a larger study to investigate the relatively small weight gain among sugary drink consumers, the marked weight loss among those on low-calorie drinks and other patterns. Factors that may affect the disparity include growth rates and the time of year, which may affect activity levels. The researchers also want to examine other possible sources of calorie intake linked to drinking habits.
GENERATION AT RISK
An estimated 20,000 obese children in the European Union could have type 2 diabetes by 2010 if current trends continue, according to research from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF)
More than a million children will show signs of high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels or early indicators for cardiovascular disease, the IOTF predicts
American research suggests that consuming one 330ml sweetened soft drink per day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60 per cent
Drinks with more than 10g of sugar per 100ml are classified as high in sugar by the Food Standards Agency. They include sweetened fizzy drinks, sales of which now seem to be slowing
The best drinks to give children are water, low-fat milk, milkshakes without added sugar and 100 per cent fruit juice (although the calories from natural sugars in fruit juice can add up)
Children should drink at least two litres of water a day, either on its own or as well-diluted squash. Inattention in class is often caused by dehydration
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2072059,00.html
London, UK
6 March, 2006
TEENAGERS who consume a can of sugary drink a day are likely to be up to a stone (14lbs/6.4kg) heavier after a year than those drinking unsweetened versions, research suggests.
A study by American scientists has pointed to the impact of sugar-sweetened drinks on weight, and the global epidemic of childhood obesity. Researchers who monitored the weight of 100 teenagers, half of whom were put on to unsweetened drinks, concluded that a single 330ml can a day of sugary drinks translated to more than 1lb of weight gain every month.
The full effect of sugary drink consumption is revealed in a study published today in the journal Pediatrics. The findings come as experts predict that childhood obesity rates will rise sharply in the next five years, with a profound impact on everything from public health care systems to the economy.
Analysis by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), also released this morning, suggests that by 2010 about 40 per cent of children in the European Union — more than 26 million — will be overweight if trends continue. About a quarter of young people are currently classified as overweight or obese.
Increased consumption of fizzy drinks and squashes — which contain more sugar than any other substance in most children’s diets — has caused particular concern among health experts.
In the Pediatrics study, researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston in the US followed 103 teenagers for six months. Half of the participants received low-calorie drinks, such as bottled waters and “diet” brands, and were instructed to avoid sweet drinks. The remaining teenagers acted as a control group and continued their usual eating and drinking patterns.
After six months, consumption of sugary drinks by the first group had dropped by 82 per cent, while intake in the control group remained unchanged. Other factors, such as physical activity levels and television viewing, did not change in either group.
Researchers found that the heavier the teenager at the start of the trial, the stronger the effect on weight. Among the heaviest third of participants, those receiving lowcalorie drinks had a marked decrease in body mass index (BMI), while the control group had a slight increase.
Cara Ebbeling, co-director of obesity research at Boston, told The Times that the weight difference between the groups showed that drinking a single 330ml sugar-sweetened drink each day could cause 1lb of weight gain every three to four weeks. She said that the study offered compelling evidence of the impact that a simple intervention, such as such as school vending machine bans, could have on obesity.
A report by the Audit Commission, published last week, attacked the Government’s indecision and lack of leadership over the implementation of measures to curb child obesity. Days later the governmentappointed Schools Food Trust indicated that schools would be banned from selling junk food and using vending machines selling high-calorie snacks and drinks. Parents will be issued with advice on what to put in their children’s packed lunches.
The team is starting a larger study to investigate the relatively small weight gain among sugary drink consumers, the marked weight loss among those on low-calorie drinks and other patterns. Factors that may affect the disparity include growth rates and the time of year, which may affect activity levels. The researchers also want to examine other possible sources of calorie intake linked to drinking habits.
GENERATION AT RISK
An estimated 20,000 obese children in the European Union could have type 2 diabetes by 2010 if current trends continue, according to research from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF)
More than a million children will show signs of high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels or early indicators for cardiovascular disease, the IOTF predicts
American research suggests that consuming one 330ml sweetened soft drink per day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60 per cent
Drinks with more than 10g of sugar per 100ml are classified as high in sugar by the Food Standards Agency. They include sweetened fizzy drinks, sales of which now seem to be slowing
The best drinks to give children are water, low-fat milk, milkshakes without added sugar and 100 per cent fruit juice (although the calories from natural sugars in fruit juice can add up)
Children should drink at least two litres of water a day, either on its own or as well-diluted squash. Inattention in class is often caused by dehydration
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2072059,00.html