DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - Two major health organizations issued a policy recommendation that would limit access to sugar-sweetened beverages among children and teens. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association released policy recommendations that encourage lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels to impose taxes on sugary drinks.
Dr. Bill Dietz, pediatrician and Chair of the Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness at George Washington University said the excessive consumption of sugar among children and rising rates of obesity and obesity-related illnesses contributed to the creation of this policy recommendation.
"The upper 25 percent of children and teenagers consume about 500 calories a day from sugar and it contributes to obesity. 18 percent of 2 to 19 year-olds in America are obese," said Dr. Dietz.
Pediatricians are diagnosing an alarming number of cases on Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and high cholesterol in young patients, which are health problems associated with high sugar intake.
The policy calls for an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages; federal and state support of a decrease in marketing of sugary drinks to children and teens; federal nutrition assistance programs to ensure access to healthy food and discourage consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks; making healthy beverages, such as milk and water, the default on children's menu's; and an implementation of policies in hospitals to limit purchasing sugary drinks.
Dr. Deitz said several communities have already implemented a tax on sugary drinks and they've already seen a decrease in the consumption of those drinks. He says it's unlikely a federal tax would happen anytime soon, but local communities should consider implementing one.