Researchers push for higher taxes on sugary drinks in effort to eliminate obesity

In a post from the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers claim it makes sense for the government to begin using higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to fight obesity and other serious health-related issues.

Specialists from the Children’s Hospital Boston and the Harvard School of Public Health say that research shows sugary drinks lead not only to weight gain, but also to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  High taxes on sugary drinks would make it too expensive for consumers to continue their current habits, the journal reports.  The taxes would also be used to finance health programs to educate consumers about the health risks related to sugar-sweetened beverages–much like the model of programs used to curb smoking habits.

Obesity in the United States doubled between 1977 and 2002.  Researchers say that while higher taxes on sweetened beverages would not wipe out the obesity epidemic completely, it is one way to to help cut consumption.

“Obesity is unlikely to yield to any single police intervention,” the journal said,  “so it is important to pursue multiple opportunities to obtain incremental gains.”

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