On Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages to Combat the Obesity Problem

BackgroundObesity among all walks of life is one of the most widely emphasized nutrition-related health problems in America today.According to the joint publication, "A Handbook on Obesity in America", sponsored by The Endocrine Society and The Hormone Foundation ( 2005), 127 million adults in the United States are overweight, 60 million are obese and 9 million are extremely obese.Nayga (2008) reported that recent obesity rates for men and women in the United States are 36.5% and 41.8% respectively.The overweight/obesity problem is not only an issue with adults but also with children and adolescents.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007) of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report that from 1980 through 2004, the prevalence of overweight increased among children and adolescents in America.In addition to environmental and genetic factors, the selection of food and beverages potentially may be a contributing factor to obesity.With the publication of the 2000 and 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the role of beverages in the American diet received more attention.There is a very wide variation in beverages in terms of their energy (caloric) content and nutrient composition, ranging from zero-calorie bottled water to low-calorie diet soft drinks to heavily-caloric coffee drinks.Additionally, beverages provide nutrients such as calcium and vitamin C (viewed positively by health officials) as well as caffeine (viewed negatively by health officials) to the diet.Therefore, beverage choices made by individuals may potentially influence the quality of the diet.