119. Picture warnings on sugary drinks might decrease childhood obesity
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
One of the leading causes of the growing rates of childhood obesity has been sugary drinks, like sodas and juices. In a new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, researchers at the University of North Carolina tested pictured warning labels on the drinks to see if they discouraged parents from buying them for their kids. Over 300 parents participated in a randomized shopping trial in which some sugary drinks had labels with images representing heart damage and Type 2 diabetes and others had labels simply showing a barcode. Participants had to choose one drink and one snack for their child. The picture warnings reduced parental purchases of sugary drinks for their kids by 17 percent. Finding ways to decrease consumption of these sugary drinks is important, as they have been linked to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
