摘要：Children and adolescents are not consuming enough water, instead opting for sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas, sports and energy drinks, milks, coffees, and fruit-flavored drinks with added sugars), 100% fruit juice, and other beverages. Drinking sufficient amounts of water can lead to improved weight status, reduced dental caries, and improved cognition among children and adolescents. Because children spend most of their day at school and in child care, ensuring that safe, potable drinking water is available in these settings is a fundamental public health measure. We sought to identify challenges that limit access to drinking water; opportunities, including promising practices, to increase drinking water availability and consumption; and future research, policy efforts, and funding needed in this area. During the early 20th century , the discovery that provision of safe drinking water could prevent infectious diseases led to federal regulation of drinking water quality. 1 Since then, the importance of safe drinking water has expanded beyond the prevention of infectious disease to the removal of chemical pollutants. 1 More recently, water has become increasingly viewed as an essential nutrient that has a role in overall bodily system functioning (e.g., cognition) 2 – 4 and in the prevention of chronic conditions and diseases common in the 21st century (e.g., obesity, dental caries). 5 – 13 Studies have demonstrated that drinking water can improve students’ readiness to learn by increasing their level of cognitive functioning. 2 – 4 Increasing water consumption may also help limit excess weight gain among children, adolescents, and adults. 5 – 11 Consuming water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., sodas, sports drinks, flavored milks, fruit-flavored drinks, and other beverages with added sugar) can also prevent dental caries. 12 – 14 Despite these studies, water intake among most children is insufficient. According to a national study, young people have total water intakes lower than the Institute of Medicine recommendations. 15 Among adolescents, plain drinking water accounted for only 33% of total water intake, with the remaining intake consisting of beverages containing excess calories. 15 Because children spend most of their day at school and in child care, 16 policies and programs in these settings can affect children's water intake. We discuss drinking water accessibility in schools and child care facilities, including the regulatory framework that guides such access, challenges that limit access to drinking water, opportunities to improve drinking water access and consumption in schools, and recommendations to enhance drinking water access and intake in schools and child care settings.
