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CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Sep 16, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- University of North Carolina researchers Thursday reported more people are getting their energy from drinking soda rather than milk.
The study showed the amount of energy Americans obtained through soft drink consumption tripled between 1977 and 2001, corresponding to a drop in the energy coming via milk, which could be one pattern contributing to the obesity problem.
"Overall, energy intake from sweetened beverages increased 135 percent and was reduced by 38 percent from milk," the researchers wrote about their study in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. "This trend was mainly driven by the large increase in soft drinks consumed by children and younger adults."
Per-person intake of calories from soft drinks nearly tripled, from 50 to 144 calories a day, between 1977 and 2001 and energy from fruit drinks went from 20 calories to 45. Calories from milk dropped from 143 to 99.
The largest drop in milk consumption came among 2- to 18-year-olds, and soft drink consumption was highest among those 19-39.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
