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When you give your child sugary drinks every day, they consume up to 50 pounds of sugar every year. This overconsumption drastically increases a child’s odds of becoming obese. Currently, the U.S. childhood obesity rate is at a staggering 17%… and it’s growing.
The sugar-sweetened beverage problem extends beyond just our children, too – especially in Oklahoma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of young adult Oklahomans ages 18-34 drink at least one sugary drink per day – that’s more than any other state in the U.S. The amount of sugar this group consumes conservatively adds up to nearly 21 million pounds of added sugar per year!
The health effects of sugary drinks are wide-ranging. Sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and an array of other health issues like liver disease, gout and tooth decay. In fact, men who drink at least one sugary beverage a day have a 20% higher risk of having or dying from a heart attack. Women who consume at least one sugar-sweetened beverage a day have a 75% higher risk of gout.
So say no to soda and sport a healthier drink. Choose healthy, hydrating H2O.
Sources: Harvard School of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
