Soft drinks linked to aggression in younger children

Soft drinks linked to aggression in younger children
Although soft drink consumption is associated with aggression, depression, and suicidal thoughts in adolescents, the relationship has not previously been evaluated in younger children. A new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics found that aggression, attention problems and withdrawal behavior are all associated with soft drink consumption in young children.
Shakira Suglia, ScD, and colleagues from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, University of Vermont, and Harvard School of Public Health assessed approximately 3,000 5-year-old children enrolled in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a prospective birth cohort that follows mother-child pairs from 20 large US cities. Mothers reported their child’s soft drink consumption and completed the Child Behavior Checklist based on their child’s behavior during the previous two months. The researchers found that 43 per cent of the children consumed at least one serving of soft drinks per day, and 4 per cent consumed four or more serves.
Aggression, withdrawal, and attention problems were associated with soda consumption. Even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, maternal depression, intimate partner violence, and paternal incarceration, any soft drink consumption was associated with increased aggressive behavior. Children who drank four or more soft drinks per day were more than twice as likely to destroy things belonging to others, get into fights, and physically attack people. They also had increased attention problems and withdrawal behavior compared with those who did not consume soft drinks.
According to Dr Suglia, ‘We found that the child’s aggressive behavior score increased with every increase in soft drinks servings per day.’ Although this study cannot identify the exact nature of the association between soft drink consumption and problem behaviors, limiting or eliminating a child’s soft drink consumption may reduce behavioral problems.
Source: Elsevier
There are many problems associated with, either giving into children’s complaining or whining why they must have a sugary soft drink, or the adult themselves becoming lazy and giving children soft drinks for the hell of it.Kids are kids, they are learning as they grow, teach them bad habits that you may have acquired over the years, then get ready to for the consequences as they get older.From exposing them to a poor diet and not much moving, from the daily use of a square box that starts with an “i”.
What happened to the frisbee, the skipping rope, the ball… a ball, what’s that mum and dad?

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOUR SHOPPING WAS FINISHED.

fitaustralia

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOUR SHOPPING WAS FINISHED.
These pictures were taken right next to a supermarket checkout area. Can you guess why they have been put there? Of course, just as you thought your shopping was over, in your face are stacks and stacks of soft drinks at great discount prices.
So hey, I might as well pick up a 30 bottle pack for home, it’s cheap and it would be great for myself and the family.We all can just have a soft drink whenever we want, and the kids will stop complaining they are thirsty.
WRONG!!!!!!
These are the type of temptations that companies use to sell their products. Trouble is, you and your family will suffer the long term consequences if you continue to give in to these marketing strategies..
Regularly consuming these specially marked down soft drink products has been proven over and over again to be harmful to your health, your families and even more important, your children.
In regards to providing kids with easy access to soft drinks and other foods e.g take-away, you are teaching them, you are providing them with the unhealthy options. Kids did not enter this world and say, “hey mum, dad, I need a Coke and while your at it, how about some McDonalds or KFC and add on the special offer with extra chips and dessert.
Which leaves me to one of the consequences you may get if you relent to the marketing strategies of supermarkets,fast-food outlets and other food and drink companies.
Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes, commonly referred to as type 1 and type 2, as well as pre-diabetes (where the insulin levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2) and gestational diabetes (when a pregnant patient’s body isn’t able to make and use the insulin needed for the pregnancy).
Diabetes mellitus is a condition where the body cannot maintain normal
blood glucose levels. Diabetes is caused by resistance to, or deficient
production of, insulin, which helps glucose move from the blood into the
cells. When the body does not produce or use enough insulin, the cells
cannot use glucose and the blood glucose level rises. This means that the
body will instead start to break down its own fat and muscle for energy.
Diabetes may lead to severe problems including damage to the heart, blood
vessels, eyes, nerves and kidneys.
Type 1 - type 1 diabetes is characterised by a complete deficiency of insulin, the hormone that helps glucose move from the blood into the cells. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy to control their blood glucose levels. This is given by injection.
Type 2 - type 2 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases among people aged 40 years and over, in particular among those with excess weight and a family history of diabetes. However, the number of children and people under 40 years of age being diagnosed with the condition is increasing. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85-90% of people with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes results from reduced production of insulin or the inability of the body to use insulin properly. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the onset of Type 2 diabetes. The major risk factors include:
• increasing age;
• excess weight;
• physical inactivity;
• poor diet and nutrition; and
• impaired glucose tolerance.
Type 2 diabetes is always initially treated by dietary changes, weight loss (if appropriate), and attention to lifestyle issues such as exercise and cessation of smoking. If blood sugar is not controlled, then tablets or insulin injections may be needed to lower blood glucose (source: Dept of Health and Ageing, Diabetes Organisation - Australia).