In a study of more than 4,200 Australian children, the researchers with Deakin’s Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research have found that children who consume high amounts of salt are also likely to drink more sugary beverages, putting them at risk of unhealthy weight gain.
Lead researcher Carley Grimes, said: “The consumption of high sugar drinks is known to contribute to excess weight gain in children and adolescents.
“These findings suggest that children who consume a high salt diet are likely to consume more sugary drinks which increases their risk of becoming overweight or obese. Reducing salt in children’s diets may help to reduce the amount of sugary drinks they consume and therefore help with efforts to reduce the high rates of overweight and obesity.”
The researchers found that 62% reported consuming sugar sweetened drinks. In this group, children who consumed more salt consumed more fluid and in particular more sugar-sweetened drinks. The children who consumed more than one sugary drink per day were 34% more likely to be overweight or obese.
The researchers also found that for every 1g of salt consumed per day, the children drank 46g more fluid, with those who reported consuming sugar sweetened drinks drinking 17g more for every one gram of salt.
Previous Deakin research has shown that children are eating around six grams of salt a day or four times more than is recommended.
Source: Deakin University
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