Effects of Soft Drinks on Health, Essay Example

The United States Department of Agriculture claimed that the consumption of soft-drinks in the United States of America has increased over 500% during the past 50 years.  Soft drinks include all types of drinks such as soda, flavored juice drinks, as well as sports drinks.  In addition, it has been found that approximately half of Americans consume these types of drinks on a daily basis and soda is the most consumed beverage. Furthermore, due to the increase in soft drink consumption, the amount of soft drink consumption in children has also increased. The importance of this increased consumption is linked to dietary guidelines and health.  The current paper overviews how soft drinks impact individuals’ health due to the increase in sugar and calorie intake. (North Carolina School Nutrition Action Committee, 2)

The increase in consumption of soft drinks has been observed in children at a very young age.  The start of the consumption of soft drinks has been correlated with an increase in consumption as individuals grow the young adulthood. For instance, over 50 percent of adolescents at age 8 drink soft drinks on a daily basis.  In addition, teenage boys have been reported to drink more than three cans per day.  The increase in consumption has contributed to an increased in the amount of sugar and calorie intake in the diet of children and adolescent, as well as the replacement of milk and water as a beverage choice.  The replacement of milk with soft drinks decreases the amount of nutrients needed for development and growth of children and adolescents.  Furthermore, an increased consumption in soft drinks is linked to decreased levels of magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B2 (North Carolina School Nutrition Action Committee, 2).  In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture found that less than 40 percent of boys and girls were consuming the recommended number of servings of vegetables, fruit, and dairy needs. The increase in calories in soft drinks has also increased the risk for obesity in children (Jacobson, 5).

In 2001, the Surgeon General indicated that there were twice as many overweight children and three times as many overweight teens compared to the 1980 report.  A study researching the factors which causes for the increase in overweight children and adolescents have indicated the consumption of sugar from soft drinks as on the factors (North Carolina School Nutrition Action Committee, 3). The consumption of carbonated drinks has been reported as the largest source of sugar intake in the American diet.  Teenage boys have been found to intake 44 percent of sugars from soda alone and teenage girls 40 percent because soda contains around seven teaspoons of sugars.  The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that people eat 1,600 calories per day with no more than six teaspoons of sugar per day. With the increase in sugar comes the increase in calories. It has been found that in children from 2 years old to 18 years old, the percentage of calories from soft drinks are as high as 10 percent (Jacobson, 2).

The increase in soft drink consumption has become a topic of interest to both public health and policies.  Soft drink consumption has been linked as a major factor to obesity and health issues, particularly in children.  Results from studies have prompted many schools in European countries, such as Britain and France to ban soft drinks from schools. Within the United States, some cities, such as Los Angeles and Philadelphia have limited the amount of soda (Jacobson, 5).  A study conducted by Vartanian et al., illustrates the possibility that soft drinks increase hunger in individuals, as well as change the preference in the level of sweetness for other foods. Soft drink consumption also leads to an increase in the levels of sugar intake.  In addition, it was found that the increase in soft drink consumption decreased the amount of calcium intake, increased the intake of carbohydrates, decreased the intake of fruit and dietary fiber, as well as decreased the intake of macronutrients.  The study also suggested that the increase in soft drink consumption showed a higher overall glycemic index in individuals and an associated link to medical problems (Vartanian et al., 670).

Studies have shown an association with an increased risk to medical problems, such as an increased risk for diabetes.  For instance, a research studied in women over a period of eight years who consumed one or more soft drinks per day were twice at risk for diabetes compared to women who consumed less than one serving per month.  These results can also be an alert for children who are consuming large amounts of soft drinks and who are at risk for obesity (Vartanian et al., 673).  Recent studies conducted in 2013, have examined the correlation between diet and lifestyle in weight gain from soft drink consumption.  The study was a four study using healthy men and women.  It was found that the effect of sugar sweetened beverages were associated with an increase in weight gain, with only one additional serving associated with an addition of one pound of weight.   The study also examined the relationship between soft drinks and whether or not the increase in sugar was associated with a modification in the genetic risk of obesity.   The study found that with an increased consumption in soft drinks, there was an associated risk of genetic susceptibility to obesity (Willet, 2).

Overall, research has found an association with an increase in soft drink consumption and negative health effects, particularly in children who are consuming high levels of soft drinks.  Therefore, it is important that there is an implementation or effort to help reduce the consumption of soft drinks.  It is recommended that effort continue such as chain restaurants displaying the calorie content of soft drinks on the menus and menu boards.  In addition, labels should be advertised on soft drinks informing the public about the potential health effects that can occur with increased soft drink consumption, such as obesity and diabetes.  Furthermore, in order to decrease the amount of intake of soft drinks consumption in children, state and federal governments should institute more water fountains in local schools, buildings, parks and other public locations.  One important recommendation that is currently underway in some major cities is the banning of soft drinks in school systems.  (Jacobson, 5)

There are several solutions to the effort in decreasing the amount of soft drink consumption to increase health and fitness in adolescents and adults.  Banning the sale of soft drinks in elementary and high school nationwide should be the first step in this cause.  Banning soft drinks in the school system will help reduce the amount of soft drinks that adolescents and young adults consume on a daily basis, decreasing the likelihood of soft drink consumption as they enter adulthood, further decreasing adverse health effects.

Researchers also suggest that children who begin consuming soft drinks increase their intake through adulthood, and it will further lead to adverse effects, such as obesity and diabetes.  Educating the public and regulating policies in the school system, such as limiting the intake of sugar containing beverages, can help promote healthier lifestyles in all individuals by reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes.  This resolution is an effective approach to the necessary changes needed in today’s society.

Works Cited

Jacobson, M.F. PhD.  (2005).  How Soft Drinks Are Harming Americans’ Health.  Center for Science in the Public Interest. Retrieved from: https://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/liquid_candy_final_w_new_supplement.pdf

North Carolina School Nutrition  Action Committee.  (2002).  Soft Drinks and School Age Children.  Retrieved from: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dph/oralhealth/library/includes/ed-materials/Soft_Drinks_and_School_Age_Children.pdf

Vartanian, LR., Schwartz, MB., PhD., Brownell, KD, PhD.  Effects of Soft Drink Consumption on Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2007).  American Journal of Public Health.  April; 97(4): 667–675.

Willet. W.C.  (2013).  The Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.  Sugar-Sweetened Beverages.  Harvard School of Public Health.  Health Professionals Follow-Up Study Newsletter.  Retrieved from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hpfs/pdfs/13News.pdf.