OPINION: Updated: Ms. Michaela Jellicoe clarified, King County Public Health, did not submitt this information on obesity in response to a story on the Evergreen Hospital Property Tax Levy. Obesity in youth contributes to high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, and tooth decay. Each year, King County spends $500 million for costs related to obesity. It's hopeful the Evergreen Commission will acknowledge a need for community care and awareness of this chronic condition with levy-dollar funding.
Thanksgiving and the December holidays are fast-approaching. During the holiday season, kids and grown-ups typically consume more candy and desserts. Many parents are concerned about how many sweets their children may eat in the upcoming months.
Few parents realize that, in addition to baked goods and candy, sugar-loaded beverages such as soda, sports beverages, energy drinks and sweetened fruit drinks also pose hidden health risks for kids. These risks include contributing to being overweight or obese, Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and high blood pressure.
Children who drink two or more sugar-loaded beverages a day are more likely to be overweight than kids who consume healthier alternatives such as low-fat milk or water. A 20-ounce bottle of soda has more than 15 teaspoons of sugar and 240 calories. It is no wonder that one in three children in middle and high school locally is overweight or obese — and the number is growing.
Over the years, sugar-loaded beverages have become easily available to kids. Since the mid-1990s, the consumption of sugared beverages for 2-18 year olds has surpassed milk — putting youth at risk for osteoporosis and brittle bones. Each year, King County spends $500 million for costs related to obesity.
Opinion by Bob Yoder
Michaela Jellicoe
on Behalf of Public Health – Seattle & King County
(206) 462-6385
Great post and information! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Bob,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the Public Health – Seattle & King County video and information on your blog (http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/). There are a few points that I would like to clarify. I submitted this information on behalf of my client, Public Health – Seattle & King County. If your readers would like further information they can visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/sugarydrinks/ or they can call Public Health – Seattle & King County at (206) 296-4600. Also this information was not submitted in response to any levy or initiative. Public Health – Seattle & King County is trying to get the word out about the hidden health risks of sugar-loaded beverages. As a part of this effort they are distributing their information and video to all local media. We would greatly appreciate it if you could make note that this information was not submitted in response to the story on the Evergreen Hospital Property Tax Levy, or any other levy or initiative.
Once again, thank you for sharing this information with your readers, we really appreciate your help in sharing this important information. We would greatly appreciate if you could make note of the points outlined above. Please let me know if you have any questions about the information or if there is anything else I can help clarify. Once again thank you for all of your help and support.
Best,
Michaela Jellicoe on Behalf of Public Health – Seattle & King County
(206) 462-6385