The Science of Deliciously Good Health

The belt-busting American waistline is becoming as much a political as a public health problem. However, the politics of fat are not easily digestible. It’s no secret that we’re eating money – literally – the CDC estimates that obesity now accounts for 9.1% of all medical spending, that’s $147 billion in 2008. 

High-calorie drinks and soda are thought to be the primary offenders in our fight against fat. And although the idea of imposing a soda tax has been sloshing around public and political forums for a while now, most states have put a squash on its implementation. However, NYC health officials have recently launched a super-sized attack on “sugar-stacked” drinks.

The ad – depicting fat globs pouring out of a soda bottle – will run for three months in subway cars. Of course nutritionists are delighted, but it’s no surprise that The American Beverage Association is less than pleased.  According to a statement given to The New York Times’ City Room Blog, Kevin Keane, a spokesperson for the American Beverage Association said, “The ad campaign is over the top and unfortunately is going to undermine meaningful efforts to educate people about how to maintain a healthy weight by balancing calories consumed from all foods and beverages with calories burned through exercise.”

What do I think of Keane’s statement – it’s filled with as much rubbish as a can of soda. I’m not sure if he’s aware of the several studies that show sugary beverages to be associated with a bevy of bad health outcomes – obesity, diabetes, heart disease, just to name a few. I agree the ad is shocking, but something needs to stop us from sucking down sodas – all the while, sucking up the billions of dollars it costs to treat diet-related diseases.

Ironically people are better informed about nutrition than ever, as a result of label laws and education campaigns, not to mention the $50 million we spend on dieting every year. Then why are we getting so fat, so fast? Herein lies the obesity paradox.

It’s obvious traditional tactics aren’t working, so if it’s shock tactics we need to get our nation healthier and eating a better diet, then I say, “Shock the shit out of us” – we obviously need it.

Tags: American Beverage Association, are you pouring on the pounds, NYC health officials and soda ad, NYC soda ad, soda ad and fat globs, soda and obesity, soda tac, sugary drinks and health problems