Sweet Beverages Lead To Overweight Children

Research Brief:
Does your child consume four to six sugar-sweetened beverages a week? If so, they are twice as likely to be overweight at 4 years old. Researchers from University of Ottawa followed almost 2,000 children from birth to 4 years of age. Those who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages were twice as likely to be overweight by the age of 4 years old.

You're not just treating your child to a soda or fruit punch, you are also treating your child to a lifetime of obesity. Start serving your child a healthy diet from birth. Habits developed in childhood are often carried on throughout adulthood. Now is the time to teach your child which foods to eat and which to avoid. Avoid sweetened drinks altogether and make candies and other sweets a rare treat. They will be more appreciated and savored and your child will be much better off in the long run.

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(Dubois L, Farmer A, Girard M, Peterson K. Regular sugar-sweetened beverage consumption between meals increases risk of overweight among preschool-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jun, 107(6):924-34; discussion 934-5.)