[Actual Test] - The link between childhood obesity and sugary drinks IELTS Listening Answer Key & Explanations

[Actual Test] - The link between childhood obesity and sugary drinks

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Lecturer: Good afternoon everyone and thanks for coming to my presentation today, which is on the link between childhood obesity and sugary drinks. Childhood obesity is a worrying phenomenon that affects many developed societies. Childhood obesity rates have doubled throughout the past thirty years in The United States for children aged two to five and 12 to 19 and tripled in the age group of six to 11. 1Many social and environmental pressures lead to greater obesity in children.

Chief among these influences is the wide variety and availability of sugar sweetened drinks that contain little to no nutritional value. These beverages include soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, flavored teas and coffees and energy drinks. Throughout the past ten to fifteen years, these drinks have exploded onto the consumer scene, flooding grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and vending machines. Americans have doubled their consumption of soda pop in the last twenty five years, a trend that closely follows the obesity epidemic. The average American drinks 1.6 cans of soda pop a day, which is more than 500 cans a year.

2Soda drinking is particularly rampant among teenagers. Data indicates that soft drinks account for 13% of a teenager's caloric intake, by far the largest source of calories in his or her diet. For decades milk was the most common beverage consumed by children, but by the mid-1990s boys and girls were drinking twice as much soda pop as milk. One recent study has demonstrated a strong link between consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and childhood obesity. Although some studies conflict regarding the causality between sugar sweetened beverages and obesity, a number of research studies confirm the findings that increased soft drink and sugar laden beverage consumption is a risk factor for obesity.

3Not only do sugar sweetened drinks likely lead to obesity, they are also associated with tooth decay and fragile bones. Energy and soft drinks can also contain large amounts of caffeine. The amounts of caffeine found in such drinks are often about 10 grams per ounce. With that in mind, take a look at the amount of caffeine found in other beverages. Most experts recommend that children consume well under 100 of caffeine per day.

4The pharmacological effects of caffeine are notable in children, most commonly seen as hyperactivity, sleep disturbances and restlessness. Drinking large amounts of caffeine can also be associated with high blood pressure and frequent headaches. Researchers have reported that a new practice among college aged students is the simultaneous consumption of energy drinks and alcohol, which allows greater consumption of alcohol since alertness is perpetuated by the energy drink. In addition, the sugar content of energy drinks is comparable or higher than most soft drinks with, for example, a typical energy drink containing 27 grams of sugar. 5Alcohol usually contains a lot of sugar and this can lead to massive sugar intakes for people who mix energy drinks with alcohol.

So what can be done to limit the amount of the nutritionally poor liquid calories that children and adolescents are consuming? 6On an individual basis, the best approach is simply to replace soda and sports drinks with water or low fat milk in children's diets. Water is the best hydrator available. Low fat milk not only hydrates but delivers calcium, protein and vitamin D. What happens at school may be out of the immediate control of a parent, but 7parents can petition the school to eliminate machines that sell soft drinks and energy drinks in favour of bottled water.

Children should be watched at home regarding their choice of liquids. A glass of 100% fruit juice per day is fine, but excessive soda, sports drinks or energy drinks is unhealthy. Parents need to provide guidance to their children so that they know and understand this. 8Moderation in guiding children, of course, is appropriate. Children who are constantly deprived of treats are more likely to binge eat or drink.

Studies suggest that children who are raised by parents who exert excessive dietary restraint may be more likely to become obese. 9Also, the role models presented by parents are important. Children possess the ability to regulate their caloric intake. However, if they see their parents struggle with the effort to control food or drink intake and the conscious restriction of intake to control weight, they may pattern their own eating and drinking behaviour after their parents instead of allowing their internal energy regulation to guide them. This in turn seems to lead to greater obesity in children.

In conclusion, parents should adopt healthy eating and drinking patterns, limiting the consumption of soft drinks and other sugar sweetened drinks, and to do so without obsession. Helping children develop a love for the refreshing taste of water or a cold glass of milk will pay immediate health rewards for children as well as dividends for their future health and weight control. 10Careful education of today's youth will be the key to them avoiding these destructive drinks.

Complete the notes below Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the listening for each answer.

Childhood Obesity & Sugary Drinks

Over last 30 years, US obesity rates doubled for ages 2 to 5 and tripled for ages 6 to 11.
1 (social) and environmental pressures often to blame. Sugary drinks that have no or very small nutritional value are widely available. These drinks include soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, flavoured teas and coffees, and energy drinks.

Sugary Drink Facts and Statistics

American consumption of soda doubled over last 25 years.
The average American drinks 1.6 cans of soda a day (makes 500 annually).
2 (Teenagers) drink even more soda than the average.
Soda’s are 13% of teenage calorie intake.
Soda has taken over from milk as most popular young person’s drink.
Recent studies prove link between sweet drinks and teenage obesity (some studies have conflicting results).
Sweet drinks also encourage teeth problems and weak 3 (bones)

Sugary Drinks and Caffeine

Sugary drinks can include around 10 grams of caffeine per ounce. The recommended dose for children is well under 100 grams a day. Excess caffeine in children can lead to 4 (hyperactivity) sleep problems and agitation. It can also lead to high blood pressure and headaches.

Energy Drinks and Alcohol

Young people can mix alcohol and energy drinks. Leads to more alcohol drunk and very high 5 (sugar) intake from the energy drinks and alcohol.

Possible Action

Replace sugary drinks with water or 6 (low-fat milk | low fat milk)
Monitor children and ask schools to remove 7 (machines) selling sugary drinks.
Observe 8 (moderation) when dealing with kids - no treats can lead to binge eating/drinking.
Parental 9 (role models) important - children base their actions on their parents’ habits.

Conclusion

Parents should control their children’s sugary drink intake and without obsession. Children should learn to love water and eat healthily as their future health depends on it. The answer therefore to developing healthy behaviour in children will lie in 10 (careful education | education)

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