Thinking About Soft Drinks
Everyone has an opinion about New York City’s planned new law banning large soft drinks. Whether you think it’s a good law or bad law depends mostly on your view of the proper role of government in our lives.
Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans oppose New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to limit single servings of sugary drinks to 16 ounces at restaurants and other public venues.
But some things about soft drinks are not opinions — they’re facts. Here are some statistics from a UCLA Center for Health Policy Research report that highlight the effect of soft drinks on our health:
- Soda is the number-one source of added sugar in the American diet.
- Each American consumes an average of 50 gallons of sugar sweetened soft drinks per year.
- Almost half of the additional calories growth in our diet since the 1970′s come from soda.
- 41% of children ages 2-11 drink at least one soda or other sugar-sweetened beverage every day.
- That number goes up to 62% of adolescents ages 12-17.
- Only 1 in 4 adults drinks pop though.
- Adults who do drink one or more sodas or other sugar-sweetened beverages each day are 27% more likely to be overweight or obese.
- The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day vs. the recommended 5-9. That 200-400% more than recommended.
- If you think that’s a high number, just one 20 fl oz single use bottle of soda has 17 teaspoons of sugar.
Many of the medical professionals fighting obesity and diabetes are voicing their support for Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal.
Whether the law passes or fails, here’s one more fact for you: You don’t need a law to start taking personal responsibility for what you put into your body. It’s that sense of taking responsibility that is a major reason that so many of our patients are enjoying exciting, new healthy lives. By opting for weight-loss surgery, they’ve decided to leave their old lives behind. Our successful patients give up soft drinks, knowing that it doesn’t make sense to waste the space in their new, smaller stomachs on empty calories.
If you’re morbidly obese — and diets and exercise have not worked for you — why not give us a call to learn how we can help you make a big difference in your life? To make an appointment to see one of our surgeons, call our office at (516) 616-5500, or fill out our easy online contact form now.
