U.S. kids need to drink more water, study finds

As temperatures rocket toward the triple digits, a new study finds that U.S. kids aren't drinking enough water.

Boys were 76 percent more likely than girls, and non-Hispanic blacks were 34 percent more likely than non-Hispanic whites, to be inadequately hydrated, the release says.

“These findings are significant because they highlight a potential health issue that has not been given a whole lot of attention in the past,” said lead author Erica Kenney, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard Chan School, in the 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.”

The researchers looked at data from more than 4,000 kids ages 6 to 19 who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey included a look at how concentrated a person's urine is, a telltale sign of whether or not they are dehydrated. About a quarter of kids reported drinking no plain water.

Drinking water is important for physical health. It aids in circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation and waste removal, the release said. Dehydration, though, can lead to other issues such as headaches, irritability, poorer physical performance and even reduced cognitive functioning.

"The good news is that this is a public health problem with a simple solution,” said senior author Steven Gortmaker, professor of the practice of health sociology, in the release. “If we can focus on helping children drink more water — a low-cost, no-calorie beverage — we can improve their hydration status, which may allow many children to feel better throughout the day and do better in school.”

How can we get kids to drink more water?