Kids Filling Up on Empty Calories

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Kids Filling Up on Empty Calories

Nutrition experts from the US National Cancer Institute have found that about 40

percent of the diet of a typical American child comes from solid fat and added

sugar – empty calories which are fueling the obesity epidemic and putting

children at risk for future chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Although intake varied by age, race and ethnicity, the top sources of empty

calories came from six foods: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain

desserts, pizza and whole milk. The authors of the study were particularly

concerned about added sugars. Reducing consumption of sugar sweetened beverages

should be a priority, they say. The findings from the study are published in the

October issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.