U.S. Kids Not Drinking Enough Water Each Day
U.S. Kids Not Drinking Enough Water Each Day
Under-hydration can pose real health risks for children, study authors say
"The food industry is also a contributor as they are selling juices, sports drinks and water," Marino added. "The good old water fountain or a refillable water bottle may lack appeal to trend-conscious kids."
The Harvard researchers said that proper hydration is crucial for physical processes such as circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation and water removal. Excessive dehydration can cause serious problems, they said, but even mild dehydration can cause headaches, irritability, poor circulation, reduced physical performance, and poorer mental functioning.
However, "the good news is that this is a public health problem with a simple solution," study senior author Steven Gortmaker, a professor of the practice of health sociology, said in the news release.
"If we can focus on helping children drink more water -- a low-cost, no-calorie beverage -- we can improve teir hydration status, which may allow many children to feel better throughout the day and do better in school," he said.
Copperman agreed. "The study indicated that by increasing water intake by 1 cup or 8 ounces per day, hydration was improved," she said.
She also offered up some tips for parents to help boost their child's water intake:
U.S. Kids Not Drinking Enough Water Each Day
Under-hydration can pose real health risks for children, study authors say
"The food industry is also a contributor as they are selling juices, sports drinks and water," Marino added. "The good old water fountain or a refillable water bottle may lack appeal to trend-conscious kids."
The Harvard researchers said that proper hydration is crucial for physical processes such as circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation and water removal. Excessive dehydration can cause serious problems, they said, but even mild dehydration can cause headaches, irritability, poor circulation, reduced physical performance, and poorer mental functioning.
However, "the good news is that this is a public health problem with a simple solution," study senior author Steven Gortmaker, a professor of the practice of health sociology, said in the news release.
"If we can focus on helping children drink more water -- a low-cost, no-calorie beverage -- we can improve teir hydration status, which may allow many children to feel better throughout the day and do better in school," he said.
Copperman agreed. "The study indicated that by increasing water intake by 1 cup or 8 ounces per day, hydration was improved," she said.
She also offered up some tips for parents to help boost their child's water intake:
- "Keep water cold. Add frozen water bottles to a child's lunch pack," she said. The bottles will keep their lunch cold and thaw throughout the day so they are cool to drink. Cold water tastes better to children than room temperature.
- "Don't rely on a child's thirst. Thirst is not a good indicator of hydration," Copperman said. Children need to have access to water throughout the day.
- "Try infusing water with fruit (such as oranges), vegetables (such as cucumbers), or herbs (such as mint) to give the water a flavor without adding extra sugars," she advised.