Sugary drinks are one of the top sources of calories in the American diet and are a big contributor to the obesity epidemic.
Young people are exposed to a massive amount of marketing for sugary drinks, such as sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and fruit drinks. Despite industry pledges to market fewer unhealthy beverages to children, this report finds there is more—not less—advertising for sugary drinks overall.
Although many schools are making an effort to remove regular soda, other sugary drinks remain widely available in vending machines, school stores, and other locations. Sports drinks are by far the most commonly offered type of sugary drink available in U.S. middle and high schools.
A nationwide, penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would prevent thousands of heart attacks, strokes, and cases of diabetes, and help avoid billions of dollars in medical costs.
In the middle of a national obesity epidemic, many sports drinks sold in the United States contain high amounts of sugar, adding more calories to youths’ diets.
Over the past 30 years, U.S. children and adolescents have dramatically increased their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including soda, fruit drinks and punches, and sports drinks.
Bridging the Gap examines how food and beverage prices affect consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the potential impact of taxes on sugary drinks. The program also has the latest research about state-level taxes on snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Healthy Eating Research convened an expert advisory panel to develop a comprehensive set of age-based recommendations to define healthier beverages.
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October 1, 2012 | Journal Article
The food and beverages served in elementary school meal programs through the United States Department of Agriculture school meal program must meet certain federal nutrition standards. However, many schools also sell food through à la carte lines and ...
January 1, 2012 | Journal Article
When we drink sugar-sweetened beverages, research strongly suggests we increase our risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and premature death. We can prevent unnecessary, potentially life-threatening conditions—and help avoid billions of dollars in medical costs over a decade—by enacting a penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, this study finds.
February 25, 2013 | Survey/Poll
This poll provides new insights into the epidemic of childhood obesity and the challenges families face between school and sleep.
October 1, 2012 | Journal Article
Replacing sugar-sweetened beverages in the homes of overweight and obese adolescents improved participants’ diet and body weight at one year, but did not improve body weight or BMI over two years.
August 2, 2012 | Journal Article
Obesity prevention social marketing is needed, but care should be taken not to stigmatize obese people and risk increased feelings of shame felt particularly by obese children.
November 23, 2012 | Journal Article
This article is a systematic review of 21 recent U.S. studies on price elasticity of demand for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), fast food, and fruits and vegetables. Additionally, this review examines 20 studies assessing the direct association of prices/taxes with body weight outcomes.
April 8, 2013 | Journal Article
Stringent school meal standards may help improve student weight status, particularly among those who receive free or reduced-price lunches.
September 1, 2009 | Journal Article
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation invests in research aimed at reducing childhood obesity. This study investigated associations between soda taxes and body mass index (BMI) in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in the period 1997-2006.
August 6, 2012 | News Release
Sports drinks, other sugary beverages still widely available.
August 14, 2012 | Issue Brief
Some Encouraging Progress, Additional Improvements are Needed