Drinking and Obesity
Thursday, February 28, 2008Americans are now getting more than 20 percent of their daily calorie intake from what they drink, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina Dr. Ken Davis takes a look at the trend in today’s 60 Second Housecall.
Americans now get nearly twice as many calories from beverages as they did in the 1960s. The finding comes from an analysis of national surveys conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina and published in the journal Obesity.
In 1965, Americans got 12 percent of their daily calories from things they drank. By 2002, drinks made up 21 percent of daily calorie intake.
It isn't just soda, although by 2002 Americans were getting 100 more calories a day from sodas than they were in 1965. Alcoholic beverages and fruit-juice drinks contribute significantly more calories to our daily diets than they did in the 1960s.
The researchers noted that beverages are not being substituted for foods, but are an additional source of calories.
Even small changes in beverage consumption can have a significant effect on slowing weight gain. Substituting low calorie drinks may help address the obesity epidemic.
For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.