The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement from 2019 states that, “Excess consumption of added sugars, especially from sugary drinks, contributes to the high prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity, especially among children and adolescents who are socioeconomically vulnerable. It also increases the risk for dental decay, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, and all-cause mortality https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/4/e20190282/37217/Public-Policies-to-Reduce-Sugary-Drink-Consumption.”  

It is the responsibility of the Nutrition Education Program from the University of Kentucky to teach basic nutrition lessons to promote more physical activity and healthy eating habits with the goal of helping ensure more healthy children and over-all well-being of Kentucky students across the state. Recently the Nutrition Education Program Assistant (NEP Assistant) from Grayson County taught a series of nutrition lessons to eight-grade students, at the Grayson County Middle School, focusing on these very subjects.  There were fifty-seven students who participated in the program, taking pre and post-tests to gather information.  Of these students, there was a 68% decrease in the number of students who drank sugary drinks, and a 75% increase in the number who drank more milk.  The post-tests also showed a 67% improvement in the number of students that are more active than they were before participating in the nutrition classes. Because of the success of this program, the NEP Assistant will be partnering with the Grayson County Middle School again in the next school year.