Elevated Soda Consumption in Overweight and At-Risk Elementary Children

Increasingly researchers have investigated the factors associated with the rise in childhood obesity. It is widely accepted that inappropriate nutritional habits coupled with inadequate physical activity practices are associated with the dramatic obesity increase in children over the past three decades, and that chronic health problems persist in obese children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between soda consumption and childhood obesity. Subjects were 221 third grade physical education students. Based on body mass index (BMI) scores, 87 were identified as overweight, 58 were identified as at-risk, and 76 were identified as healthy. A one-way Analaysis of Variance (ANOVA) was utilized to determine differences that exist between these three groups and soda consumption per day. Findings indicated a significant difference in soda consumption, F(2, 218) = 23.127, p<.00l. Results revealed that the mean daily soda consumption score of overweight participants was 2.16, while the mean daily soda consumption score of at-risk and healthy participants was l.22 and .5132, respectively. A crosstabs statistical technique was utilized to further investigate soda consumption (diet, sweetened, or no soda consumed). Of the students identified as overweight, 70 consumed sweetened soda, nine consumed diet soda and eight consumed no sodas. Twenty-four at-risk students consumed sweetened soda, 13 consumed diet soda and 21 consumed no sodas. Of the healthy subjects, nine consumed sweetened soda, 29 consumed diet soda, and 38 consumed no sodas. Therefore 88% of healthy subjects consumed either diet or no sodas, while 80% of the overweight subjects consumed sweetened soda. This study identifies soda consumption in elementary-aged students, particularly sweetened soda, as a key contributor to childhood weight gain. Studies have shown that a child's diet which reduces the intake of beverages absent of nutrients and high in calorie may help lessen or inhibit childhood obesity. This study provides evidence purporting the necessity of children reducing sweetened soda consumption at home, at school, and at any other external functions. It is strongly recommended that any organizations providing services to children, including school systems, should implement changes that effectively reduce children's consumption of sweetened sodas. Care-givers and all adults who supervise the nutritional habits of children must take a proactive approach when making critical beverage selections. It is imperative for adults to recognize that these choices have the potential to determine the health status of the children for whom they are responsible.