Study Shows Soda Bans Pay Off in Better Health
By:
NWHF Staff
| Posted on: August 12th, 2011
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Categories:
Economic Issues •
Food & Nutrition •
Public Health
A new study shows that the Boston public schools’ ban on sugary drinks has paid off, with high school students drinking fewer sweetened drinks even when they’re not at school.
In 2004, Boston public schools banned the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages.
The study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, tracked high schoolers for two years, and found that consumption, inside and outside school, fell from 1.71 servings per day in 2004 to 1.38 servings in 2006.
By comparison, nationwide there was no statistically significant decrease in teens’ sugary-drink consumption between the 2003-04 and 2005-06 school years.
Meanwhile, in the Portland Tribune, Susan Neely, president and chief executive officer of the American Beverage Association, cautioned against demonizing soda and said “our industry is committed to results-oriented solutions.”
She pointed out that “America’s beverage manufacturers cut calories from beverages sold in schools by removing full-calorie soft drinks.”
Just a point of clarification: That move came after extensive advocacy by groups such as the Oregon Public Health Institute, and funded by organizations such as Northwest Health Foundation.
Back in Boston, Mayor Thomas Menino expanded the ban on the sale of sugary drinks outside Boston schools to all city property with an executive order in April.
The beverage industry is of course resisting this ban. Someday will it be taking credit for it?
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