Children Consume More Calories and Fat on Pizza Days
Children consume more calories and fat on pizza days, according to a new study published in the journal, Pediatrics.
George Washington University researchers found that while pizza consumption at dinner declined, lunch consumption of pizza remained the same for the study period, 2003 and 2010. Pizza is a common item in schools cafeterias and kids’ parties, and the study found that on days that children eat pizza, their calories intake goes up by 84 in children and 230 in adolescents. As a result, consumption of saturated fat and sodium is also higher.
Cutting down on pizza intake can definitely help reduce obesity in kids. According to Joseph Aracri, chair of Pediatrics at Allegheny Health Network, pizza should be a”sometimes food” rather than an “always food,” as it’s high in calories, fat, and sodium. Another problem is that children eat pizza by itself, without other accompaniments like salad and fruit. He suggests that children should be encouraged to eat such healthy accompaniments on pizza days to help reduce their pizza consumption.
The study recommends counseling kids on specific foods like pizza can help prevent obesity and improve obesity treatment.
Category: News
