There is one simple, inexpensive and accessible liquid that children in the United States neglect to consume: water. A new study shows that more than half of children and teenagers in the United States may not be properly hydrated.
This data is from the nationwide survey and study by researchers from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Now, as temperatures are rising in the country, it is crucial for parents to make sure their kids are consuming enough water to prevent dehydration and promote optimal health.
In fact, according to the survey, 54.5% of the students in the study have urine concentration levels that signal their low consumption of water. This data is a sign that children are not drinking enough water that is very important for health. Inability to drink enough water may lead to dehydration, reports News Channel 4.
Dehydration could lead to consequences and bad effects for their physical health, cognitive and emotional functioning.
"These findings are significant because they highlight a potential health issue that has not been given a whole lot of attention in the past," said lead author Erica Kenney, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard Chan School, in the release, reports Wral News.
Water is needed to promote health and wellness. Drinking enough water (8 to 10 glasses a day) can aid in circulation, temperature control, metabolism, and waste removal from the body. One important side effect of low water intake is dehydration. If left untreated, it could lead to serious complications.
"The good news is that this is a public health problem with a simple solution," said senior author Steven Gortmaker, professor of the practice of health sociology, in the release.
The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health this month.