More children are being affected by kidney stones! Experts: The problem is the foods they consume

Kidney stone cases are on the rise in children, and some medical professionals point the finger at a known culprit: ultra-processed foods. Other experts argue that the increase is linked to genetic factors, poor nutrition and lack of water consumption.
A 2016 study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, analyzed the incidence of kidney stones in adolescents aged 15-19 in South Carolina from 1997 to 2012. Researchers found a 28% increase in girls and 23% in boys over a five-year period.
Some research suggests that genetic predisposition may play a role, but experts say the increase is more likely related to dietary habits and lifestyle.
"There is so much added salt in the American diet today, and when the kidney excretes sodium, it pulls calcium with it, increasing the risk of kidney stones," said John S. Wiener, MD, a pediatric urologist at Duke Health.