DOHA: Doctors and experts have cautioned parents against excessive consumption of soft drinks by children and young ones less than 18, saying it has adverse impact on their health.
They have also urged authorities to raise awareness about the adverse impact of these drinks on children’s health.
Studies have shown that children who consume excessive soft drinks gain unwanted calories, experts said, adding kids addicted to such drinks become obese and their immunity also decreases.
These drinks have a lot of sugar which increases the level of insulin in the body. This decreases the level of sugar in blood which makes them feel hungry and they eat a lot of food.
Dr Aaya Abu Al Ula, a specialist in abdominal and heart diseases, said soft drinks are of two kinds. Drinks enriched with caffeine and those without caffeine but both have harmful impacts on health. Those with caffeine increase heart beats and disturb their regularity which causes insomnia. Also acids which exist in these drinks create pressure on the chest.
Dr Al Ula said some drinks give a feeling of full stomach because of the presence of acidic carbon dioxide. Calories gained from these drinks are not considered part of healthy diet.
She told Al Raya that colours present in these drinks are not allowed for human consumption. Therefore, there must be a legislation to prevent the use of these colours or at least to ensure that these should not be sold to children.
Scientifically, childhood continues until 12 years and after that starts a new stage but until 18 children they are not fully mature.
Dr Al Ula said she had received many children and young ones less than 18 suffering from irregularity of heart beat. After check-ups, excessive use of soft drinks emerged as the main reason for the abnormality.
She advised that families should encourage children to consume alternative drinks such as juice of carrots, apple and other fruits. Even the packaged milk with preservatives is dangerous for children’s health, she added.
Dr Al Ula said there is a wrong perception among people that soft drinks help in digestion. The gas which comes out after drinking such drinks does not come out of digestion. It comes out because of gases mixed in these drinks. Studies show that soft drinks create digestive problems because they have alkaline materials which create problems in digestion.
Jaber Al Huwail, Director, Law Affairs, National Human Rights Committee, said children have full right to grow up in a natural way and to have a healthy life because good health is fundamental human right.
There is need to protect children’s right to good health. This has been enshrined in the UN Convention on Child Rights and there is international consensus on it. The committee is working to its full capacity by holding awareness campaigns about children’s healthy life in schools, in media and on social media.
Rashid Al Marri, a lawyer, said enacting a law to prevent sale of these drinks to children will not be effective.
“We have seen this in the case of law which prevents sale of cigarettes to children. The responsibility lies with parents to inspire children to acquire healthy habits.
“However, through law we can reduce the number of advertisements of soft drinks, but companies usually find ways to escape laws therefore raising awareness is the need of the hour,” he added.
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