Salt: the Hidden Factor in Child Obesity

Researchers are looking at different ways children could be developing obesity. While it is known that sugary soft drinks are the main culprit of obesity in children, researchers say that it is the intake of high sodium foods that are causing children to drink too much soda.

Researchers from St. George’s, University of London, took data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey conducted in 1997 to determine what, if anything had an effect on the amount of soda that was drank. The survey supplied data measurements on the children’s salt and fluid intake. Around 1,600 British children were included in the survey, between the ages of 4 and 18 years old. What they found was that those who had a high salt diet tended to drink way more soft drinks and those who had a low-salt diet drank less fluid, therefore less sugary soft drinks.

The researchers said that although parents may think their children are not consuming much salt, since it may not be coming from the shaker, they are not correct in their assumptions. Most pre-packaged, processed foods and fast foods are loaded with sodium and can cause their children to be extremely thirsty, reaching for sugary sodas to wipe out the salty thirst. About 80% of salt intake is thought to come from manufactured foods.

Researchers are using the food industry to cut the added salt to foods and urging parents to make better choices for their children. They believe that salt is the hidden factor in child obesity. Cutting salt intake for children might not only cut sugary soda intake and cut calories, but it could also lower blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke later in life.


Here's a list of some question answer sets that were compiled for Vitamin Stuff some time ago.

Alpha Carotene
Alpha lipoic acid
Glutathione
Lutein
Pycnogenol
Resveratrol
Superoxide Dismutase
Beta Carotene
Biotin
Carnitine
Choline
Inositol
Lecithin
Copper
Magnesium
Selenium
Zinc
Omega 3 fatty acids
Paba
Vitamin A
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B9
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E