Louisville has proclaimed September to be “Sugary Drink-Free” and residents are being asked to cut down on sugary drinks throughout the duration of.
Participants receive weekly emails with advice and reminders. Participants will be entered into a draw into a draw to win a SodaStream or Hydro Flask, and will be invited to a party at the Waterloo at the end of each month.
The Healthy Louisville Kids coalition is an alliance of individuals as well as businesses and other organizations that are committed to improving the health of children in Louisville. The coalition’s members comprise Boulder County Public Health, Clinica, Dental Aid, Community Food Share, Moxie Bread Company, The Chef Ann Foundation along with many other local businesses.
The Coalition will focus on decreasing the drinking of sweet drinks such as soda, energy drinks and sports drinks as they constitute the top one source of added sugars in the American diet and are a major contributor to chronic disease for children and adults.
“Obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease are not just affecting Colorado adults but our young people too, and high fructose and added sugar in our food and drinks are a major culprit,” said coalition participant Dr. Seth Kramer, a Louisville physician. “Prevention is key in decreasing the rates of chronic disease.”
Children who drink at minimum one drink with sugar in a day are roughly 30% less likely to die from heart attacks. They are also 26percent more likely develop type 2 diabetes as well as 55% more likely become obese or overweight.
“Sugary drinks are a major factor that contribute to unhealthy weight and chronic disease,” said Lexi Nolen, Boulder County Public Health Interim Executive Director. “Efforts like this one that encourage people to replace sugary drinks with tasty, healthier options are important to our community’s health and are especially important for children.”
Over a quarter (26.6 percent) of Boulder County children ages 5-14 years old are overweight or obese increasing by 43% since 2003. Furthermore, the Latino/Hispanic population is disproportionately impacted by 28 percent of high school Latino/Hispanic students obese or overweight compared with 9.7% of students in white high schools. The reason for this is because of targeted marketing by the drinks industry.
Comments are closed.