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Soda
and TV Pack Pounds on Teens
Too much television and too many soft drinks may be contributing
to the epidemic of obese adolescents.
That claim comes courtesy of a study in the September issue
of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
The study included a few hundred boys and girls in grades
6 and 7 from three schools in Santa Barbara, Calif. The
students filled out a questionnaire about lifestyle, weight,
eating and exercise habits. The height and weight of each
student was measured and their body mass index (BMI) calculated
by the researchers.
Overall, 35.5 percent of the students had a BMI at or above
the 85th percentile, and half of those students (17.4 percent)
had a BMI at or above the 95th percentile. The rates were
higher among Hispanic students and lower among Asian students
compared to non-Hispanic white students.
The study found a significant association between BMI and
hours of television watched and daily soft drink consumption.
Among students who watched less than two hours of television
per night, 26.2 percent had BMIs at or above the 85th percentile,
compared to 47.1 percent of students who watched three or
more hours of television per night.
Among students who drank less than three soft drinks per
day, 33.2 percent had BMIs at or above the 85th percentile,
compared to 58.1 percent of students who drank three or
more soft drinks a day.
"Our analysis indicates that increased levels of television
viewing and soda intake are associated with a higher prevalence
of overweight and obesity among sixth- and seventh-grade
school children, and overweight can lead to increased risk
of developing chronic health conditions, such as type 2
diabetes," the authors write.
"Interventions that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors
such as physical activity and limiting high-fat, high-calorie
foods and beverages may be effective in reducing both the
prevalence of obesity and the emerging epidemic of type
2 diabetes in children."
Here's where you can get advice for parents about childhood
obesity.
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
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