US Children Not Drinking Enough Water! What Inadequate Hydration Does to the Body

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More than 50 percent of children and adolescents in the U.S., ages 6 to 19, are not drinking enough water, says a new study from T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that boys were more susceptible to dehydration and that black children were more likely to be dehydrated than whites.

According to the researchers, the results of the study are a little concerning because not enough drinking of water can affect a child's physical and mental health.

"There's a lot of research out there to suggest that even mild levels of dehydration are enough to impact cognitive functioning and mood in kids," Erica Kenny from Harvard's Chan School said, according to CBS News.

Mild to moderate dehydration symptoms include: dry mouth and skin, headache, dizziness, thirst, tiredness, constipation and no urination, according to Mayo Clinic.

Meanwhile, severe dehydration is considered to be a medical emergency and can cause rapid heartbeat and breathing, very dry mouth and skin, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, fever, and in very serious cases, unconsciousness or delirium.

For the research, the scientists looked at urine samples of more than 4,000 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19. They used urine osmolality test to determine a urine's concentration and identify a person's hydration levels.

"Generally, a lower number means that you're pretty well hydrated, and a higher number means that your urine is more concentrated," Kenny told CBS.  "It vaguely corresponds with your urine color. When you have really light colored urine, you're well hydrated versus dark urine when it's more concentrated."

They found that boys were 76 percent more likely to be inadequately hydrated than girls, and black children were 34 percent more susceptible to dehydration than whites.

The researchers also took note of what the children drank and found sugary beverages and water to be the most common. According to them, water should be taken more as it is healthier, USA Today reports.

Dehydration is becoming a U.S. public health problem as it also affects adults. But according to the researchers, there is a solution.

"The good news is that this is a public health problem with a simple solution," Professor Steven Gortmaker, a co-author, said, as per Medical Daily. 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."

There have been public health campaigns that encourage people to drink more water, such as the one endorsed by first lady Michelle Obama "You Are What You Drink."