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The United States Senate is considering taxing sugary drinks such as sodas, fruit drinks, sweetened teas, and sports and energy beverages.

Advocates estimate that a tax of three cents per 12 ounces would yield $80 billion a year. Some senators believe a tax may also lower consumption of such beverages, reduce health problems, and save medical costs. Many experts have noted an association between sugary drinks and childhood obesity.

Susan K. Neely, the president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, was quick to respond, saying the tax was not a good idea, and a better approach is to reduce soda consumption in schools. Neeley noted that soft drink consumption has declined by almost 10 percent since 2000.

Earlier this year, New York Gov. David Paterson proposed an 18 percent tax on sugared sodas, but the measure did not pass the state legislature.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, legislation, soft_drinks

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The vast majority of American children (90 percent) drink sugar-sweetened drinks every day. Now a new study finds that replacing those drinks with water could help them reduce calorie intake and experience fewer dental problems.

Dr. Y. Claire Wang and her associates at Columbia University analyzed reports of diets from the 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of children ages two to 19. They found that the empty calories in sugary drinks accounted for more than 10 percent of the children's daily calories. Other studies have found that children and teens consume 70 percent of their soft drinks at home, and only 15 percent at school.

"The evidence is clear that replacing these 'liquid calories' with calorie-free beverage alternatives both at home and school represents a key strategy to eliminate excess calories and prevent childhood obesity," Dr. Wang said.

This study appeared in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Labels: weight loss, overweight children, soft_drinks, studies

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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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Over 30% of American teens use energy drinks, according to a study by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine. A typical drink is between 12 and 16 ounces, with 50 to 145 milligrams of caffeine in every eight ounces. A cup of coffee has 100 milligrams and a regular cola has 35 milligrams per eight ounces. Some high schools have already banned the sale of energy drinks in their cafeterias and vending machines. Popular brands are Spike, Wired, Freek, Buzz, and Red Bull.

Worried your teen isn't getting proper nutrition? Learn more about healthy eating at WeightLossCentral.org.

Labels: healthy_eating, soft_drinks, caffeine

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The International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) is asking food and soft drink manufacturers to adopt global standards on marketing their products to children and adolescents. A draft of the standard was developed by the International Obesity Task Force, the policy arm of the IASO.

"The proposed code would require a ban on all advertising of junk food and caloric soft drinks to children under 16 years old on television up to a 9 pm watershed and complete restrictions on internet promotions of junk food to children, where children's online games are often used as selling techniques. The use of celebrities and cartoons, already forbidden in Ireland, would also be prohibited."

Members of the IASO acknowledge that the global ban would not immediately bring an end to the problem of childhood obesity. It would, however, raise awareness that this is a serious problem worldwide. Read more at Scoop.co.nz.

Labels: advertising, soft_drinks, marketing

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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

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments