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WHO says tax on sugary drinks, reduced prices for fruits, vegetables could decrease obesity


From the Rural Blog

A 20 percent tax on sugary drinks would decrease obesity by 20 percent, says a report by the World Health Organization. The report also said reducing prices for fruits and vegetables would increase consumption of those products.

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WHO officials say “drinking fewer calorific sweet drinks is the best way to curb excessive weight and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, although fat and salt in processed foods are also at fault,” Stephanie Nebehay writes for Reuters.

WHO states that obesity rates “more than doubled worldwide between 1980 and 2014, with 11 percent of men and 15 percent of women classified as obese—more than 500 million people.”

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Michael Bloomberg, former New York mayor and a WHO ambassador for noncommunicable diseases, said in a statement: “Smart policies can help to turn the tides on this deadly epidemic, especially those aimed at reducing consumption of sugary drinks, which is fueling obesity rates.”

Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s nutrition and health department, said an estimated 42 million children under age 5 were overweight or obese in 2015, an increase of about 11 million over the past 15 years, Nebehay writes.

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The Rural Blog is a digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, from the IRJCI, based at the University of Kentucky. The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues is an extension program for rural journalists and news outlets. It takes no positions on issues and advocates only for strong news coverage, responsible commentary and things that make them possible, such as open-government laws. For more information see www.RuralJournalism.org.


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One Comment

  1. AmeriBev says:

    The World Health Organization’s recommendation to tax sugar-sweetened beverages is wholly misguided, and contrary to their assertions, such a policy would not reduce obesity in any real or lasting way. The WHO report has been criticized by experts, who have characterized the proposal as “wrong and unjustified,” and called out its regressive and damaging consequences. It’s also interesting to note that previously WHO did not advocate soda taxes. In their April bulletin, the organization said: “WHO recommends other price policies such as subsidies for, or lower taxation of, healthy food as well as initiatives to encourage people to eat a healthier diet, avoid tobacco and be more physically active.”

    As we have consistently said, taxes don’t make people healthy. Rather than attempting an ineffectual Band-Aid fix, we should work together to advance real and lasting solutions that will help people to balance all they eat and drink, not just the very small portion of calories we get from beverages that contain sugar. Information on how to maintain a balanced lifestyle and lower-calorie choices to help achieve it is the realistic approach that works. Via our Balance Calories Initiative, among other efforts, our industry is doing its part to propel this kind of holistic education forward.

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