Researchers at the University of Sydney have come up with yet another reason for you to ban your kids from drinking soft drinks — it’s bad for their hearts.
The study of 2000 12-year-olds found that children who consumed one or more fizzy drinks a day were at greater risk of developing heart disease later in life.
Researchers from the university’s Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research quizzed children and their parents about their diet and lifestyle before conducting a series of medical tests.
Related: Soft drinks linked to heart disease
They found that those who drank seven or more soft drinks a week had narrower arteries in the back of their eyes, a precursor to increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
“This is just another piece of evidence to show that fizzy drinks really aren’t that good for our children,” study leader Dr Gopinath said.
“More studies like this would build a strong evidence base to perhaps bring about change in policy and practice and in the way foods are products are marketed or advertised to our children.”
Your say: How do you encourage your children to eat healthy food when they pester you for junk?
