Rethink Your Drink
It’s a fact: sugary drinks cause
unhealthy weight gain
Making healthy beverage choices is just
one of many simple steps you and your family
can take in the journey to better health.
Did you know?
One 20 oz. bottle of soda has 16 teaspoons,
or 37 packets, of sugar
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Why do sugary drinks
get such a bad rap?
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20 oz.
Soda, juices, Kool-Aid™ and many sport drinks have
NO nutritional value but are high in calories, and
consuming too many calories can cause weight gain
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Sugary drinks do not fill you up as quickly as solid
foods do, so it is easy to take in more calories than
you really need
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Most drinks have more than one serving. For
instance, a 20 oz. bottle of soda has 2.5 servings
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Sugary drinks cause your blood sugar to rise and
fall quickly. This makes you feel hungry sooner and
causes you to eat more
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20 oz.
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Quick Tip!
Prevent weight-related
health risks by cutting
down on your intake
of all sugary drinks
including soda, juices,
Kool-Aid™ and
sports drinks.
The extra sugar consumed from one serving of soda
can lead to a 15-pound weight gain over a year
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A 12 oz. glass of orange juice contains 180 calories,
the equivalent of eating three chocolate-chip cookies
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MassGeneral Hospital for Children Weight Center
50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114
888-644-3211
massgeneralforchildren.org/weightcenter
Practical tips for staying
hydrated and healthy
Drink water
Tap water is safe, cheap and good for you too
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Buy a water bottle so you can bring water with you.
You’ll also save money in the long run
Why is being overweight
a problem?
Being overweight causes health
problems that can affect nearly
every organ system in the body.
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If you crave flavor, try some simple substitutions
Water with a slice of lemon or lime
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Brain and nerves
Headaches
Risk of stroke
Emotions
Low self-esteem
Depression
Low-calorie flavored water such as Vitamin Zero™
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Low-calorie sports drinks such as Propel Zero™
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When eating out
Order water whenever possible
Heart
Heart disease
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Lungs
Asthma
Sleep apnea
Difficulty exercising
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Don’t supersize on sugary drinks; buy smaller bottles
or cups instead so you drink less
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Kidney disease
Cancer
When exercising
Drink water instead of sports drinks
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Hernia
Blood clots
Avoid sugary beverages
Even drinks such as chocolate milk and juice, which
are sometimes thought to be healthy, contain a lot
of calories and can cause weight gain
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Stomach and intestines
Hepatitis
Liver fibrosis
Gallstones
Risk of colon cancer
Bones and muscles
Back pain
Arthritis
Fractures
Bow leg
Hip problems
Hormones
Type 2 diabetes
Early puberty
Polycystic ovaries (PCOS)
Fertility problems