With my lighter summer blogging schedule, I find myself condensing multiple post topics into themed news round-ups. I hope you don’t mind! 🙂 Today’s theme: obesity and soda, which, of course, are inextricably intertwined.
A Troubling Milestone Reached
According to a new Journal of the American Medical Association report, America has reached a troubling new milestone: the number of American adults who are obese has now surpassed the number who are merely overweight. More here from today’s Los Angeles Times.
The Best Measures to Curb Childhood Obesity?
In light of the above finding, it seems clear that more aggressive societal interventions to curb obesity are warranted. But which interventions are most likely to work? In today’s New York Times, Jane Brody reports on the recently released results of the CHildhood Obesity Cost-Effectiveness Study (aka “CHOICES”), which examined various possible approaches to curbing childhood obesity and chose two as most likely to help: the imposition of taxes on sugary beverages and curbs on children’s junk food advertising, both measures long supported here on The Lunch Tray. More from Brody here.
Early Findings: Soda Taxes Do Work
Speaking of soda taxes, one of the few nations to successfully pass such a tax is Mexico and now researchers are avidly waiting to see if it actually lowers soda consumption. According to early study results, it does indeed. More here from NPR’s The Salt blog.
A DIY Soda Tax from Jamie Oliver
Meanwhile, celebrity chef and anti-obesity advocate Jamie Oliver isn’t waiting around for the British government to pass a soda tax. Instead he imposed his own surcharge on all sugary drinks sold in his restaurants, with the proceeds raised going to charity. More here.
Vintage Coke Ad Skewered
And finally, be sure to check out “Change the Tune” (below) from the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It’s a newly-released parody of the classic 1971 “Hilltop” ad for Coca-Cola, skewering the soda industry for its role in America’s obesity crisis:
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