Sodium intake tied to obesity among teens

Dietary sodium has been linked to obesity in previous studies. "Our study and studies looking into national data all show that average dietary sodium consumed is 3,300-3,400 milligrams daily in children, as high as that of adults," Dr. Haidong Zhu told Reuters Health in an email. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone keep sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day, but 90 percent of children exceed that amount, Zhu noted. Those in the top third of sodium intake weighed approximately four pounds more than those in the bottom third, on average – about 149 pounds versus 145 pounds.