Sugar, Sugar-Taxes, taxes!

You can debate the merits of the recent New York City ban on extra large sugary soft drinks. What can not be debated is the data. Here in this blog we reported a while ago on the link between consumption of large amounts of sugar in the form of sugary soft drinks and an increased risk of hypertension. Recent studies have looked at the consumption of sugary soft drinks and its effect on children. There were two recent studies reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. One study was done at Boston Children’s Hospital. This trial looked at teenagers’ weight gain over a one year period where one group got water and diet drinks and the other did not. The group not receiving water or diet drinks gained and additional 4.2 pounds (3.5 versus 7.7). Another study looking at younger children, aged 4 to 11, was done in Amsterdam. They were followed over an eighteen month period. The children were given a no-calorie beverage or a sugar sweetened one. Those receiving the sugary drinks gained an additional 2.3 pounds (13.9 versus 16.2). A different study examining adult health professionals over a several year period found that among those who exhibited a genetic predisposition towards obesity (looking at 32 known genetic markers for the development of obesity) and consumed sugar containing drinks had a significantly increased risk of becoming obese; more than those who had markers but did not drink sugary beverages and more than those without markers who did drink sugary beverages. Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has called for taxes on sugar containing products. He has said that taxes are “the single most effective measure to reverse the obesity epidemic.” The debate continues.

Discuss amongst yourselves!