A dietician, Motunrayo Oduneye, says excessive consumption of soft drinks increased the risk of osteoporosis in children.

Oduneye, an Assistant Chief Dietitian, University College Hospital, Ibadan, made the assertion on Thursday in Ibadan while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN reports that osteoporosis has been defined as a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility, and consequent increase in fracture risks.

Oduneye said that dinking carbonated beverages also known as soft drinks hindered the absorption of calcium into the body, which consequently lowered bone density and led to osteoporosis.

“Unfortunately many children are victims of sugary drinks every day because that is what their mothers gave them.

“Taking plenty of sugary drinks hindered the absorption of calcium into the body.

“Soft drinks consumption increases the risk of fracture”, she said

Oduneye advised mothers to train their children to consume milk as a drink and as a substitute for soft drinks.

“Taking sugary drinks instead of milk, which contains calcium, results in low calcium in their body and therefore increased the risk of osteoporosis, that is weak bones, which explained why some children easily fractured.