Obesity

Image: iStock/elenachaykina

Sugar taxes work even among poor… just: study

By Oliver Morrison

Sugary drink consumption in Chile fell nearly a quarter after the country introduced a raft of regulatory measures on foods high in sugar, fat, salt and calorie content. The affect was slightly greater among middle and high socioeconomic groups.

Image: iStock/lowkick

Energy drink ban ‘makes no sense’

By Oliver Morrison

Plans in the UK to ban the sale of energy drinks to teenagers are “unscientific” and “discriminatory” according to a think-tank.

Pic:iStock

Bermuda launches sugar tax consultation

By Rachel Arthur

Bermuda has launched a public consultation for its proposed sugar tax, which would cover sugar-sweetened beverages, candies and plain sugar.

Research: Aussie sugar tax 'would not punish the poor’

Research: Aussie sugar tax 'would not punish the poor’

By RJ Whitehead

A major criticism of the public health lobby’s proposed sugar sweetened beverage tax—that it would unfairly punish the poor and disadvantaged—may have been debunked by research from Deakin University’s Global Obesity Centre. 

Ireland may follow Mexico and the UK and bring in a tax on sugary drinks in a bid to curb obesity.  © iStock

Ireland ponders sugary drinks tax

By Niamh Michail

A tax on sugary drinks is being considered by the Irish government as part of the upcoming budget, a measure condemned by the Irish Beverage Council (IBC) as “costly political posturing”.

Not so sweet: lobbying by food and drink firms had delayed UK obesity strategy, claimed the AoS

Food and drink industry ‘delaying’ UK obesity plans

By Gwen Ridler

Food and drink manufacturers have “delayed and eroded” government plans to tackle obesity, claimed the lobby group Action on Sugar (AoS), after the publication of a new report by the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA).

The soft drinks sugar tax could cost Coca-Cola £226M a year

Coca-Cola could face £226M sugar tax

By Gwen Ridler

The Coca-Cola Company could face a bill as high as £226M a year under the sugar tax, if it doesn’t pass on the increased charge for its sugary drinks to consumers, according to market research firm Euromonitor.

This is the first human evidence that eating artificial sweeteners during pregnancy may increase the risk of early childhood overweight, say the researchers. © iStock

Artificial sweeteners linked to overweight babies

By Nathan GRAY

Consumption of artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy could double the risk infants being overweight one year after birth, according to new research in mothers.

Taxing sugary drinks would cut obesity, according to a new, disputed report

Sugary drink obesity claims slammed by industry

By Michael Stones

The soft drink industry has slammed claims that a 20% tax on sugary drinks would cut UK obesity rates by 5% within nine years – resulting in 3.7M fewer obese people.

The WHO expects childhood overweight and obesity prevalence in Africa to reach 12.7% in 2020, up from 8.5% in 2010.

Exclusive interview with FAO’s director for nutrition

The fat after the famine: Obesity the next challenge facing Africa, says FAO boss

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

After years of battling undernutrition, Africa is now facing an emerging threat of obesity and the two must be considered simultaneously, according to the director of nutrition at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).  

Can you lose weight while drinking diet soda? One study says you can

Diet soda: A key to weight loss?

By Hal Conick

Low energy sweeteners commonly used in diet sodas may help with weight loss, says a University of Bristol study, adding that confusion among consumers between sweeteners and sugar needs to be addressed.

Public Health England report: Key points and reactions

Public Health England report: Key points and reactions

By Niamh Michail

"No single action will be effective in reducing sugar intakes," concludes Public Health England's report which recommends cutting price promotions, junk food advertising and setting a sugar tax. We look at some reactions to the findings.

Malcolm Clarke of the Children's Food Campaign slammed the government's refusal to consider a tax on sugary drinks as 'absurd'.

UK government rules out sugar tax

By Niamh Michail

The British government has no plans to tax sugary drinks, despite an online petition receiving more than the 100,000 signatures required to spark a parliamentary debate on the issue.