Children have a drinking problem—but in this case, it’s not what you might think. (Unless, of course, you looked at the headline, in which case it totally is.)
A new study, courtesy of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, indicates that kids and teens aren’t drinking enough water, with many walking around in a constant state of dehydration. Boys are more likely to be dehydrated than girls, according to the research, and black kids are more likely to be dehydrated than non-Hispanic whites.
“The good news is that this is a public health problem with a simple solution,” says professor Steven Gortmaker. “If we can focus on helping children drink more water—a low-cost, no-calorie beverage—we can improve their hydration status, which may allow many children to feel better throughout the day and do better in school.”
Of course, it might lead to additional bathroom breaks…(Time)