The link between the intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and weight gain is an obvious one, but the other association is with markers of insulin resistance. A prospective summary of middle school students over two academic years, showed the risk of becoming obese increase by 60% for every additional serving of sugar-sweetened drinks per day. There is mounting evidence that the extra calories ingested from soft drinks does not displace other caloric intake, but adds to it. On average the extra calories were 172-200 calories or more a day. Unfortunately, there were also to be considered the associated changes in taste preferences, especially in children, when they find the sugar-sweetened beverages more satisfying than water and less sweet foods; like fruits and vegetables, with the result that their diet may become poorer in quality over time.
In September an article of the topic appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Metabolic consequences that are well known, include elevated triglycerides, raising blood pressure, and lowering the heart protective high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which would raise the risk of coronary artery disease.
Health Policy discussion is taking place on dietary issues like these, and involve the promotion of the idea of excise taxes on sweetened beverages, calculated based on
the number of grams per ounce of added sweetener. The tax is proposed to be levied on producers not consumers. These tend to have greater effect on lowering consumption levels; much like those levied on tobacco and alcohol. Polls are showing increasing trends in support for a soda tax, such as in New York State, whose residents were in favor by 52%.
The money paid by the consumer for the soft drinks does not begin to cover the escalating health care costs from the related diseases. One study of nurses who were followed for 8 years, the risk of diabetes in the group drinking one or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per day, was nearly double the risk of those drinking one or less. For increased risk of heart disease by the first group, was 35%.
A suggested national tax of 1 cent per ounce, would generate $14.9 billion in the first year alone. The use of revenues for teaching childhood nutrition, obesity interventions or health care for uninsured would make lasting and long range changes in large populations. State tax revenues of the same kind would generate additional funds to improve health education, and decreasing health costs and economic burdens associated with the rising burden of diseases. Many feel this logically justifies the government’s right to repay itself some of the costs.
Of course there will be a hue and cry from the soft drink industry, just like there was from the tobacco and alcohol producers. The relation between sales, and illnesses, as well as the obvious self-serving promotion of unhealthy habits to kids and teenagers, would make the “selling” the tax reasonable, and a solution to some social ills going forward.
