DESPITE raining cats and dogs last week, the lack of water in school students’ diets was top of the agenda at Shoalhaven High last Thursday.
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In an effort to encourage students to drink more water and less soft drink, free drink bottles were distributed and a colourful mural painted near the bubblers.
It was all part of the Drink Water – It’s Fresh, It’s Free project, a joint effort by the University of Wollongong’s Centre for Health Initiative and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District’s Health Promotions Service.
Year 9 and 10 students were told about the negative effects of sugary drinks and the benefits of drinking water throughout the term and will watch That Sugar Film in class.
They’re being targeted because they are part of the only age group in Australia that hasn’t dropped its consumption of soft drinks.
“Despite growing rates of childhood obesity, more Australians under 25 years are now consuming soft drink and this is the only age group whose average individual consumption has increased since 2013,” said UOW’s Dr Lyn Phillipson.
“There are about 16 teaspoons of sugar in a 600ml bottle of soft drink, which is more than double what the World Health Organi-sation recommends as a daily limit.”
Teacher Hayley Callahan said five new bottle refill taps would be installed as well as 12 new lockable noticeboards so the water message could be reinforced.
“We have engaged our P&C and hope parents will also support the ‘drink water’ message to students at home,” she said.
