Milk, juice, energy drinks, tea, coffee, etc. These drinks are all consumed greatly by teens. But, are these drinks giving them hydration?
Teens nowadays face many troubling problems that previous generations either overlooked or did not experience. Many parents wonder where and why this is happening, blaming it on the new generation being weak, but what if it’s deeper than that?
Survey says…
A researcher gave over 100 people a survey in which they asked questions regarding hydration.
After looking over the results of the survey, the researcher made many interesting conclusions. 64 percent of respondents consume beverages with meals. 42.1 percent of people said they spent 20 dollars a month on drinks other than water.
60 out of the 114 responses showed that people value the taste of their beverage over the health and price. The majority of people claim to consume water daily.
When asked how addicted they felt to caffeine/sugar on a scale of 1-5, with five being very addicted, respondents averaged 2.55. Almost half of the respondents reported drinking 2-3 bottles of water a day and indicated that they were fairly health-conscious.
This information makes you wonder if teens are really aware of what they consuming because research says differently.
Research
A study done by Childen’s Health have shown that staying hydrated increases energy levels, improves movement, recovery speeds, and agility, and can aid in mental clarity and activity.
Another study done by NPR showed that a significant number of teenagers in the U.S are chronically dehydrated and only drink substances after early signs of dehydration. Roughly ¼ of American teenagers drink no plain water in a day at all.
After much research, it is clear to see the reason for teens’ uprising problems. Proper hydration is essential for maintaining the effective function of the central and physiological systems.
The “why”
Could these major problems have simple solutions? Could most cases of anxiety, depression, and burnout that teens face be the result of this? While it may seem unlikely at first glance, we can’t let this go overlooked. With teens facing increasing pressures from academics, social media, and extracurricular commitments, they easily neglect aspects of health. If something as simple as a daily habit could make a significant difference, it deserves more attention.
Articles from PubMed Central stated teens often struggled to stay hydrated due to high activity levels, limited water access at schools, and a strong preference for sugary drinks over water.
A deeper dive.
Although there were many different sources for information and reasons given for why teens lack proper hydration; to get a closer insight two teenagers were asked why they thought this occurs. Jason Eyetan, a junior who attends Colonia high school had a lot to say. He stated “I think many of peers lack proper hydration because the overwhelming amount of work they have to complete. Work such as homework, studying, sports,clubs, housework, and more. While this is one of the main factors people my age forget/don’t drink water another reason is preference. When I am around my friends they gravitate towards more sugary drink options. Like redbull, monsters, dunkin coffee and refreshers, juice, and soda.”.
Another Colonia student, Helen Kovaleski, had a different opinion. She claimed that “Being an athlete who is surrounded by many other athletes hydration is rarely an issue for us. Since were working out all the time it is vital that we are always drinking water and electrolytes. The information that you showed me that said “kids in my generation lack hydration”, I think was researched on about narps( non athletic regular people). They might on the regular forget to drink water and choose the unhealthier option. But, as an athlete who wants to be successful it is not an option for me to drink less 4-5 water bottles a day.”.
After taking these interviews it was clear to see the difference between athletes water consumption and non athletes water consumption. It is also clear to see that most teens forget to drink water because of the distraction caused by other drinks that contain an unhealthy amount of sugar and caffeine.
Solutions!
Encouraging teens to increase their water intake could have a profound impact not only on their physical health but also on their mental and emotional well-being. Schools and families can play a crucial role by promoting water consumption and making it more accessible throughout the day. Even small changes, such as carrying a reusable water bottle or choosing water over sugary drinks, can help establish healthier habits for life.
Once teens start to understand and address the importance of hydration, it can play a major role in supporting the generation’s overall health. By prioritizing water intake,we can help teens feel better. As well as being more resilient in the face of everyday challenges.
