For years, it has been recommended that everyone consume less sugar. New information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives a clear picture of just how much sugar our kids are getting from sugar-sweetened beverages. Almost two-thirds of the young ones and teens (ages 2 through 19 years) are drinking at least one sugar-sweetened beverage each day and almost one in ten are having three or more sugar-sweetened beverages on a given day. Teens consumed the most sugar-sweetened beverages with almost 10 percent of their daily calories coming from these drinks.

Sugar-sweetened beverages add calories and added sugars to what kids eat. Studies suggest that sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to tooth decay, weight gain, and Type 2 Diabetes in youth. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend reducing consumption of added sugars to less than 10 percent of calories per day and to choose beverages with no added sugars.

Our Arizona Health Improvement Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Communities established an important goal to increase the proportion of adults and children who are at a healthy weight by five percent. The plan includes a strategy to support implementation of practices to limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Find out how you and your family can start to rethink your drink. Let’s get started today.