TimesNews: Could Taxing Sugary Drinks Help Combat Health Problems?

“An increasing number of cities and countries have begun taxing sugary beverages. But can raising the price of these drinks really make a dent in obesity, diabetes, and other ailments? This question, which was recently posed in the “Health and Disease” section of Knowable Magazine, is complex and has proven to land people on opposite sides of the proverbial fence.” “Public health researchers and organizations, such as the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, see these taxes as low-hanging fruit in the battle against obesity and the health problems such as diabetes that often come with it. In the U.S., nearly 40 percent of adults are obese, which adds $147 billion to the nation’s annual healthcare spending, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The problem is complex, but the widespread consumption of foods packed with added sugars — which add calories but no essential nutrients — plays a major role, and beverages account for nearly half the added sugar in the American diet.” Read more at TimesNews