Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/gjn9KMa3cHc

 

Third and fourth graders playing sports wolf down 25% more calories after their game than they burn during the game.  Utah’s Brigham Young University studied kids playing 189 games of soccer, flag football, baseball, and softball.

 

The children burned 170 calories during the game but gorged on 213 calories afterwards.  The calorie count surged due to sugary drinks like Capri Sun and Kool-Aid as well as cookies and cakes.

 

Sports participation is wonderful for growing children’s’ bodies, but it won’t stem the obesity crisis unless kids consume fewer calories than they burn.  Substitute iced water or real fruit juices for the sugar drinks and offer fruit in place of pastries. 

 

Natalie Bennion, Lori Andersen Spruance, Jay E. Maddock. Do Youth Consume More Calories than they Expended in Youth Sports Leagues? An Observational Study of Physical Activity, Snacks, and Beverages. American Journal of Health Behavior, 2020; 44 (2): 180 DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.44.2.6

 

#youthsports #obesity #treats #sugarydrinks #cookies #cakes