Label sugary drinks

Almost exactly 50 years ago, scientists, health advocates, and political leaders came together to discuss a major health crisis facing the country and what could be done about it. Numerous studies presented worrisome evidence linking cigarette use to a range of life-threatening health problems.  The result, the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965, required manufacturers to place warning labels on cigarette packages for the first time in this country’s history. The labels provided consumers with a potentially life-saving warning that using these products could lead to serious, long-term health problems. 

Today, while health impacts of widespread tobacco use remain a grave concern, our country faces another crisis. More than a third of U.S. adults are obese, adding an estimated $147 billion to our country’s annual health care costs. An estimated 60 to 80 percent of obese adults suffer from Type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other related health conditions. In New York, the prevalence of obesity among adults increased 40 percent between 2000 and 2010, with increases across nearly every segment of the population. We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic. And while there are numerous causes that have contributed to this negative trend — inactive lifestyles, calorie-rich foods, expanded portion sizes, and more — sugary drinks, including soda, sweet tea, and sports drinks, have undeniably played a central role. One half of the U.S. population consumes sugary drinks on any given day. According to a study by the Institute of Medicine, 20 percent of the total weight increase in the United States between 1977 and 2007 can be attributed to sugar-sweetened beverages.