Each child and teenager in the United States consumes enough sugary beverages to fill a bath tub every year, said the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. Citing strong evidence of an increased risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses from these added sugars, the prominent medical groups came out in support of soda taxes to reduce consumption of the sweeteners.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the government’s recommendations for healthy eating, suggest Americans should get no more than 10 percent of their calories from added sugars, which are sweeteners that food processors, cooks and consumer put into food and drink. Data show that children and teenagers get an average 17 percent of calories from added sugars; nearly half of the calories are in beverages.
In a policy statement, the groups government should consider raising the price of sugary beverages through means such as taxes, using the revenue to pay for a public health campaign about the risks of added sugars. “Healthy drinks such as water and milk should be the default beverages on children’s menus and in vending machines,” said the groups. They also urged action to limit marketing to children and teenagers of sugary drinks.