The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that soft drinks be eliminated from schools to help tackle the nation's obesity epidemic, and schools that already have contracts with soft drink vendors should temper them so they do not promote overconsumption in students. This is a huge step in the right direction as soda and other junk foods have no place in the school system. Potential health problems associated with high intake of sweetened drinks include:
- Overweight or obesity attributable to additional calories in the diet
- Displacement of milk consumption, resulting in calcium deficiency with an attendant risk of osteoporosis and fractures
- Dental caries and potential enamel erosion
And this is just a partial list. To find out more about the dangers of soda, check out my previous article.
Pediatrics January 2004