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The Tennessee Clean Water Network (TCWN) is working on goals to help enforce state and federal anti-pollution laws towards clean water, but also encouraging the state to drink less sugary beverages and instead opt for free, clean tap water.
The state is currently dealing with high rates of obesity, at 31.2%, according to a 2014 report, with Latinos at a high rate of obesity at 31.7%. The movement towards drinking more tap water will also help reduce large numbers of plastic beverage bottles being disposed of in the state’s landfills, explains a recent article.
Efforts have been taken by TCWN to install water fountains in local community areas with messages, such as “Water first for thirst’ and decorations of local art on the fountains.
The drive to encourage the community to drink free, clean tap water is vital for many children and teens in the area at risk for high rates of obesity.
Research shows that with each sugary drink consumed, body weight, the risk of obesity and the risk of diabetes increases.
Encouraging Latino students and all families in the state to drink clean, free, tap water and making it available to low-income and at risk students is beneficial to helping reduce risks of obesity and diabetes for kids.
To learn more about the risk of sugary beverages and Latino kids, click here!
By The Numbers
33
percent
of Latinos live within walking distance (<1 mile) of a park
