Developing a healthy lifestyle seems so overwhelming to many families.  If we really want to make a difference in WV, and really work to reverse our obesity trends, it only requires a few changes.  Yes! It’s really not that hard. 

Last week we talked about Step 1.  Less than 30% of kids in WV report being physically active for at least 60 minutes every day.  Wow!  That’s one step we can make huge improvements in. 

 

This week we’re tackling Step 2 and this goes for the entire family.  No More Sugary Drinks.  Moms & Dads- these drinks are packing on the pounds for adults and kids.  In a 2011 study published by the CDC, 11% of the children surveyed drank a can, bottle, or glass of soda three or more times per day.

 

Kids should limit their added sugar intake to 12 grams/day. 
• One can of coca cola has 39 grams of sugar
• Mountain Dew has 77 grams
• McDonald’s sweet tea has 45 grams
• Gatorade has 14 grams
• Red Bull has 27 grams

 

And don’t think that you’re safe with fruit juice or diet soda.  Diet sodas can be even worse than regular soda.  Skeptical?  Check out this article published last year by Dr. Joseph Mercola (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/21/are-diet-sodas-making-you-fat.aspx).  Fruit juices can be loaded with sugar too. You can safely stick to a single 4-ounce box of 100% fruit juice.  Everything else should be water and low-fat milk. 

 

We owe it to ourselves and to our children to make this change. If the trends continue at this current rate, the CDC estimated that nearly half of our state’s adults would be overweight by 2018. These are small steps that go a long way.

 

See you next week with another step toward a healthy lifestyle.