President Obama told a reporter from the magazine Men's Health that he could support a tax on sodas as a means of lowering the high rates of United States obesity.
There's no doubt that our kids drink way too much soda, he said, though he added that there would be political resistance to such a tax.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging school administrators to remove all soft drinks from school vending machines and to replace them with milk, 100 percent fruit juice or water.
Pediatricians worry not only about the high sugar content of sodas, but also about the levels of caffeine children consume. The sugar and acids in the drinks can damage children's tooth enamel.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suggested that adults consume no more than 18 teaspoons of sugar at a day. The American Heart Association suggests even lower maximum amounts: five to six teaspoons a day for women, and six to nine teaspoons for men.
One 12-ounce soda contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Children who drink more than one serving a day increase their risk of becoming overweight by 60 percent.
Labels: sodas, causes of childhood obesity
Posted By: Aspen/CRC
