Monday, July 14, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

MEDICAL NOTEBOOK: Joelle Babula

A new study suggests children who drink a lot of juice may be more at risk for obesity than kids who drink other beverages, such as water, diet sodas or milk.

Researchers found that overweight children consume 65 percent more juice than thinner kids. Juice is normally high in calories and even increases a child's appetite, leading to further weight gain, researchers say.

The study involved 98 obese children aged 5 to 18. Food histories from the children and their parents were then compared to food histories from normal-weight children.

The obese children drank far more juice -- about 32 ounces a day -- than what's recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The academy recommends four to six ounces of juice a day for children aged 1 to 6 and eight to 12 ounces of juice a day for children aged 7 to 18.