The summer months are approaching and surprisingly enough, more than half of all children and adolescents in the United States are not getting enough hydration according to a new study.

A new study finds that many kids aren't getting enough hydration. (Ingram Publishing, ThinkStock)
A new study finds that many kids aren't getting enough hydration. (Ingram Publishing, ThinkStock)
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The study, done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, attributes the lack of hydration to the fact that they are likely not drinking enough water.

Drinking enough water is important for bodily functions including circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation and waste removal. While excessive dehydration can result in serious health issues, even being slightly dehydrated can cause headaches, irritability and can impact physical performance and cognitive functioning.

"Active children should be drinking 10 to 15 ounces of water before taking part in a game or activity and five to 10 ounces every 20 minutes during the activity," said Jim Neilan, physical therapist, athletic trainer and vice president of sports medicine for SportsCare Physical Therapy.  "Within two hours of finishing a game, they should replenish with 24 ounces of water for every pound they may have lost during the activity."

According to the study, black children and adolescents were at a higher risk of inadequate hydration than whites and boys were at higher risk than girls.

"These findings are significant because they highlight a potential health issue that has not been given a whole lot of attention in the past," Erica Kenney, lead author and postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard Chan School, said in a press release. "Even though for most of these kids this is not an immediate, dramatic health threat, this is an issue that could really be reducing quality of life and well-being for many, many children and youth."

More than 4,000 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 years old who participated in the annual National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were looked at by researchers who found that a little more than half of all children and adolescents were not getting enough hydration.  Boys were 76 percent more likely than girls to be adequately hydrated and nearly a quarter of the children and adolescents reported drinking no plain water at all.

Not drinking enough water can cause headaches and dizziness and can result in a person feeling lethargic and cranky. In some cases, children may suffer cognitive impairment.  More serious cases can lead to heatstroke.

"Children can monitor the color of their urine. The more clear it is, the more hydrated they are. The darker it gets, the more water they need," Neilan said.

Even when children are swimming in the pool, hydrating is important.

"Although the water cools you off in the pool, your body is still sweating to keep your body temperature at a normal level," Neilan said.

 

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