Reuters reports that a policy statement from the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates recommended yesterday that "taxes levied on sugar-sweetened sodas be used to fight the country's growing obesity crisis," though it stopped short of "outright support for taxing sugar-sweetened beverages to control use of these product."
According to the AMA, the story says, "sugar-sweetened drinks make up nearly half of Americans' added sugar intake, and cutting consumption of these beverages is a simple way to reduce intake of sugar and empty calories.
"The AMA said the policy recognizes that obesity is caused by many factors, but taxing drinks with added sweeteners is one way to help pay for education campaigns and other obesity related programs."
The Associated Press story about the same meeting notes that "the nation’s largest physicians group agreed to support legislation that would require classes in causes, consequences and prevention of obesity for first through 12th graders. Doctors will be encouraged to volunteer their time to help with that under the new policy adopted on the final day of the AMA’s annual policymaking meeting.
According to the AMA, the story says, "sugar-sweetened drinks make up nearly half of Americans' added sugar intake, and cutting consumption of these beverages is a simple way to reduce intake of sugar and empty calories.
"The AMA said the policy recognizes that obesity is caused by many factors, but taxing drinks with added sweeteners is one way to help pay for education campaigns and other obesity related programs."
The Associated Press story about the same meeting notes that "the nation’s largest physicians group agreed to support legislation that would require classes in causes, consequences and prevention of obesity for first through 12th graders. Doctors will be encouraged to volunteer their time to help with that under the new policy adopted on the final day of the AMA’s annual policymaking meeting.
- KC's View:
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Whether you think this is good policy or not, I just don't think it is going to happen. Except maybe in NYC and a few other places.
