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The government would have to increase taxes on soda and junk food by 18 to 20 percent in order to influence people not to buy these products, according to a new study from the Rand Corporation.

• Roland Sturm and his colleagues analyzed data from 7,300 fifth graders who were surveyed in 2004 about their height, weight, and soda consumption.
  
• Some children lived in states that had special taxes on soda that amounted to four to seven cents on the dollar.
  
• These taxes had a small effect on a few children, mostly those whose families earn less than $25,000 a year.
  
• However, Sturm calculated that the tax would have to be more like 18 to 20 cents on the dollar to make a significant difference on consumption.

The study appeared in the journal Health Affairs.

Labels: sodas, taxes

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A five-year study of more than 2000 teenagers found no link between drinking sugar-sweetened sodas and becoming overweight.

• The researchers found that teens who drank milk tended to be slimmer, and those who consumed no-calorie drinks were more likely to be overweight.
• Researchers at Project EAT (Eating among Teens) surveyed 2294 teenagers in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area about their beverage habits over a five-year period.
  
• The teens who were drinking low-calorie soft drinks had general dietary behaviors and weight concerns, which could explain their weight gain.

The study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

An earlier study from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) linked drinking sugar-sweetened sodas to being overweight in teenagers.

Labels: sodas, causes of childhood obesity, obese teens, teens

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A study of 40,000 people found that those who drank one sugared beverage per day were 27 times more likely to be overweight than those who did not drink such beverages as frequently.

This study, from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) also concluded that drinking one soda a day for a year adds up to 39 pounds of sugar.

"We drink soda like water," said Harold Goldstein, a researcher who participated in the study. "But unlike water, soda serves up a whopping 17 teaspoons of sugar in every 20 ounce serving."

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Sweetened sodas may be harmful to the health of American children and should be restricted, according to President Barack Obama, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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

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New Yorkers may soon have to pay more for regular soda, but not diet varieties. Governor David Paterson is proposing a 15% sales tax on sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks in order to curb sales among children and to raise more money for a state strapped for cash.

The "obesity tax" has won the approval of experts in the field of childhood obesity.

"Raising the price of this liquid candy will put children and teens on a path to a healthier diet," said Elie Ward, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics in New York.

Those against the tax argue that there is no evidence the tax will curb sales of sugary soda, and that studies show that people who drink diet sodas may gain more weight than those who stick to the regular brands.

Labels: sodas, taxes, costs_of_childhoood_obesity

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In the fight against childhood obesity, school lunch programs have become a primary target. More and more schools are banning soft drinks during lunch and in vending machines on school grounds. Yet the ban seems to be having little effect on consumption.

"A researcher found that fifth-graders whose elementary schools didn't allow the sale of soft drinks consumed just 4 percent less overall than those children in other schools."

The study surveyed drinking habits of more than 10,000 fifth grade students in more than 2,000 schools. The study seems to indicate that the fight against childhood obesity can't be focused on just one area or food, but needs to be a comprehensive approach that considers home, school, and other environments. Source: ABC-7 (El Paso, TX)

Labels: sodas, schools, soft_drinks

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Norwegian teenagers who drink four or more sugary soft drinks a day are more likely to report mental distress, hyperactivity and conduct problems than teens who drink less.

Researchers at the University of Oslo who conducted the new study are not sure if soft drinks actually cause mental illness symptoms in teens. If the drinks are to blame, then researchers do not know whether it is the sugar or caffeine in them that is the actual culprit. Other studies have shown that sugar does not affect children with hyperactive disorders, despite what parents and teachers may believe.

Although the teens in the study who drank the most soda were in the worst shape in terms of hyperactivity and mental distress, teens who drank moderate amounts scored better than those who drank no soda at all.

The Oslo research team interviewed 5498 tenth graders ages 15 to 16 years old about their soda consumption, smoking habits, family structure, and food choices. The teens also answered the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist, which asks whether you feel anxious, panicky, tense, dizzy, sad, hopeless, and so forth. About 10% of the boys and 4% of the girls scored high for such problems. These children were more likely to consume four or more soft drinks per day. Other factors like smoking habits and food choices were not associated with the mental health problems.

Norwegians drink more soda or "fizzy drinks" as they call them, than any other people in the world. Dr. Lars Lien, author of the report, advises public policy makers to raise the price of the drinks so that teenagers can't afford them. This study appeared in the October 2006 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Labels: sodas, causes of childhood obesity

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The Connecticut State Senate has approved legislation that bans soda from the state’s schools. The legislation is part of the state’s overall attempts to obesity among children and teens.

“Schools would not be permitted to sell regular to diet soda or electrolyte replacement drinks such as Gatorade under the bill. A narrow exception would allow sales at concession stands at school-sponsored events on weekends or after school.” (Source: Norwalk Citizen)

Schools will only be allowed to sell milk, soy or rice milk, and fruit and vegetable drinks in vending machines. The bill faced strong opposition by those who feel the state has no right to dictate food and beverage selections in local school districts. Governor M. Jodi Rell is expected to sign the bill into law.

 

Labels: sodas, schools, prevention

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 2 Comments

If the government imposes a tax on sugary drinks, the average American child would lose 4.5 pounds a year, according to a new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The average adult would lose 3.8 pounds, and the percent of overweight people would decline from 67% to 62%, the study's author's reported

According to the New York Times, the beverage industry spent $9.4 million to oppose a tax that would have only affected people in the state of New York.
 

Labels: sodas, taxes, soft_drinks

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