Pizza Party Pooper

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Lots of families have pizza night or many kids' parties are centered around pizza. I will be the first to tell you that the socialization that comes from these events and the outright fun for kids is well worth it.

I don't think that most kids have the same excitement for fruit and yogurt parties but I wouldn't be doing my job if I did not discuss an article in the journal Pediatrics which said that pizza days could be harmful to your health.

The study looked at 13,800 people from 2 to 19 and found that on pizza days children averaged an additional 230 calories - basically kids eat all of their other calories and they do not save room for pizza.

Pizza also increases the amount of saturated fat and sodium consumed.