Comments on: Prevent childhood obesity: drink water?

By: Mary G. Materu

Mary G. Materu — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:29:40 +0000

Marion, I love everything of what you write. I am a nutritionist from Tanzania and a cancer survivor. I read two of your books (Food Politics and Safe food). This article is again those great, simple things you always suggest to improve lives of people. What you are calling “juice drinks” which many people and indeed in my country won’t even differentiate them from “100% juice”, I always call them “colored drinks”, They should be completely banned, not only to children but a complete ban.
I love your blog, very educative.

By: Soda vs. Water « Know Thy Health

Soda vs. Water « Know Thy Health — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:34:51 +0000

[...] Meanwhile, Marion Nestle has posted info on a related yet more insightful study that shows how drinking fountains in public schools can impact obesity rates. Check it out. [...]

By: Howard Lichtman

Howard Lichtman — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:18:59 +0000

The water fountain in most American communities are pumping out Fluoridated water. Fluoride has been linked to lower IQ in 23 studies from around the world.
http://fluoridealert.org/iq.studies.html
It is a practice that is opposed by over 2200+ health professionals including 14 Nobel laureates.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/professionals.statement.html
See short video interview with Christopher Bryson, Author of the Fluoride Deception:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3949434744498031545&hl=en
50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation:
http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm

By: Taste T.O. - Food & Drink In Toronto » Food For Thought - Monday, April 6th

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:32:50 +0000

[...] it’s just common sense – children in schools with water fountains instead of easy access to sugary drinks have a lower rate of [...]

By: Ruthy W

Ruthy W — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:09:21 +0000

I think that it is a great idea to get children to drink more water. Whatever we need to do to address childhood obesity is exactly what we need to do. I too am a little cautious about drinking from public water fountains because of the germ issue. It would be good if there were better water fountains. That’s one area where it doesn’t seem like the technology has kept up with other advances. Just thinking out loud……

By: Morning Skim: Google vs. Newspapers, Obama and Genocide, Iraq and More - The Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:21:12 +0000

[...] a study in German schools reported a 31% decrease in the risk of obesity in students by installing more water fountains and limiting access to sugary [...]

By: Sheila

Sheila — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:06:48 +0000

I agree that more water and less sugary soda is a great idea. My concern about water fountains, however, is the germ issue. I personally view drinking from a public water fountain as similar to drinking from the same cup as the general public. I will not drink from a public water fountain. I see too many people put their lips or tongue on the fountain, they get their face right down near the water spigot and leave all kinds of saliva and respiratory germs. I don’t know if the last person to drink from the fountain maybe had strep throat infection. I have seen people spit in the fountains as they pass, and I have even seen men urinate on the fountains.
My preferred way to consume water if not directly from my home faucet is to bring my own re-usable container full of water, and I wash the container at home every evening. I think children could bring their own water just as we send them to school with a packed lunch if they don’t like the cafeteria food.

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:45:02 +0000

It should be obvious. Liquid calories play a special role in obesity because our brain doesn’t treat liquids the same as solids. (There’s limited evidence milk might be an exception.) Soft drinks also work to trick your taste buds into thinking water is undrinkable. On top of that, the influx of rapidly absorbed carbs leads to a sugar crash, requiring…more carbs (and therefore more calories). So soft drinks are addictive through multiple mechanisms.

As for taking out water fountains, I haven’t heard of that, but I do know that many schools claim water fountains are a distraction from the educational process. These same schools tend to have a lot of vending machines because some of these contracts reward the school in proportion to sales, while charging the school for machines. Have a problem with it? This is what happens when you vote down school levies.

By: lemontree

lemontree — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:35:47 +0000

There are drinking fountains in my kids’ school, even in the cafeteria. The problem I have is the teachers allowing more access and encouraging the children to drink water. When the children get a chance to get a drink, they can only drink for 5 seconds. At a water fountain, they don’t get much water in that short amount of time.

My children are often dehydrated as a result. I had to send a note at one time for the teacher to especially encourage my daughter to drink while her body was fighting off a minor infection. She has been sent to the school nurse for split lips and given chapstick for what are obvious signs of dehydration.

The drinking fountains are there, they just need to be used better!

By: Michelle @ Find Your Balance

Michelle @ Find Your Balance — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:43:43 +0000

Such a simple thing, it’s silly not to do this! Too bad about politics and funding through soda machines. What about machines that only sell water bottles?