Governor Paterson, State Health Officials, Researchers and Advocates Hold Educational Forum to Examine the Effects of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Critical Health Issues such as Obesity

New York, NY - On Monday, March 8, 2010, Governor David A. Paterson, State and City Health Commissioners, Richard Daines, M.D. and Thomas Farley, M.D. joined forces with researchers and advocates to discuss the public health benefits of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB's), particularly SSB's links to the growing crisis of obesity. Sixty percent of New Yorkers are overweight or obese, and obesity among children and adolescents has tripled in the past three decades. This is a dire health issue that is costing the state an estimated $7.6 billion a year in health care costs.

According to researchers, SSBs are one of the main links to the obesity epidemic. One study even found that for every additional sugared-beverage consumed per day, a child's risk for obesity increases by 60 percent. Moreover, multiple studies show that buying behavior is significantly altered when prices on unhealthy foods or products are raised, people then opt for healthier alternatives. Also in attendance were Kelly Brownell, Ph.D., Co-founder and Director of the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, President, The New York Academy of Medicine, Nancy Huehnergarth, Director of the New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance, and Jennifer March-Joly, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Citizen's Committee for Children. The forum was co-hosted by The New York Academy of Medicine and the New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance.

"The proposed surcharge on sweetened beverages is a good way to help families consider their buying habits," said Jo Ivey Boufford, President of The New York Academy of Medicine. Boufford said the beverage industry can play an important role in improving health by promoting their healthier products such as water, skim milk, and other low calorie drinks that do not contribute to overweight and would not be subject to the tax.

"Because Big Beverage spends billions of dollars yearly to market sugary beverages, consumption will continue to rise unless we take action," said Nancy Huehnergarth of the New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance. "The proposed tax is a small price to pay when it comes to saving lives and keeping state finances solvent."

Posted on March 10, 2010

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