Findings
More than half of children and adolescents aren’t drinking enough water, and even mild dehydration can cause headaches, poor physical performance and reduced cognitive functioning, a new study has found.
And it’s worse for boys. Around seventy six per cent are dehydrated, say researchers from Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, who examined the records of more than four thousand children and adolescents aged six to nineteen years. Nearly one quarter of the children admitted not drinking any plain water whatsoever.
Drink more water
Dehydration is one of the most overlooked problems that can lead to poor health and affect school performance. “Even though for most of these kids this is not an immediate, dramatic health threat, this is an issue that could really be reducing quality of life and well-being for many, many children and adolescents”, said lead researcher Erica Kenney.
Source: American Journal of Public Health, 2015