An dietician Motunrayo Oduneye, says drinking a lot of soft drinks increase the risk of osteoporosis among children.
Oduneye who is an Assistant Chief Dietitian of the University College Hospital, Ibadan was quoted as saying this that on the Thursday of Ibadan when he spoke to The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Osteoporosis can be described as a skeletal disorder that is systemic and characterised by the loss of bone mass, osteoporosis, or micro-architectural damage to bone tissue, resulting in fragility of the bone, which results in an the risk of fractures rising.
Oduneye claimed that drinking carbonated soda drinks commonly referred to as soft drinks impeded the absorption of calcium into the body. This resulted in lower bone density and eventually led to osteoporosis.
- “Unfortunately the majority of children are a victim of sweet drinks each day since it’s the food their mothers served them.
- “Taking lots of sweet drinks impeded Calcium absorption by the body.
- “Soft drinks intake increases the risk of fractures,” she said.
- Oduneye suggested mothers train their children to drink milk in the form of a drink as well as an alternative to soft drinks.
- “Taking sweet drinks in lieu of drinking milk which has calcium, leads to a lack of calcium levels in the body, and thus increases the risk of developing osteoporosis which means bones are weak and a reason why children were prone to fractures.
- “Unfortunately in this area of the country, parents do not have the habit of offering their children milk for drinks.
- “It is beneficial to teach youngsters to drink milk for a drink. it can be obtained from plain or unsweetened,” she added.
- Oduneye also stated that the drinking a lot of carbonated drinks was associated with obesity in childhood.
- “Excessive drinking of soft drinks has increased the risk of obesity in children.
- “Soft drinks are associated with a strong connection in the development of being overweight especially among children.
- “Studies found that those who consumed more than one sweet drink a day is 50-60 percent more likely be obese or overweight than those who do not.
- “Having at least one carbonated beverage per day could lead to weight gain or obesity. increase,” she said.
She said that reducing the consumption of soft drinks particularly among children should be considered an important way to lower the incidence of osteoporosis as well as childhood overweight in Nigeria. (NAN)
