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Flow of empty calories into children's food supply must be reduced – 1

Narrator: This is NIH Health Matters. I’m Joe Balintfy. The diets of American youth have a lot to be desired, in part because they’re filled with empty calories.

Reedy: That includes things like cakes, cookies, pies . . .

Narrator: That’s Dr. Jill Reedy, a nutritionist with the National Cancer Institute.

Reedy: Nearly 40% of total calories consumed by 2-18 year olds were in the form of what we call empty calories, empty calories from solid fats and from added sugars. More specifically, sugar-sweetened beverages, which include soda and fruit drinks combined, provided almost 10% of total calories.

Narrator: To learn more about empty calories and get tips to help children maintain a healthy weight, visit the website wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov. Health Matters is produced by the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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This page last reviewed on March 17, 2011

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