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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March 12, 2013 | Issue Brief
Beverage choices contribute significantly to dietary and caloric intake in the United States. Healthy Eating Research convened an expert advisory panel to develop a comprehensive set of age-based recommendations to define healthier beverages.
August 6, 2012 | News Release
Sports drinks, other sugary beverages still widely available.
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.
July 17, 2012 | Story
Research Review
June 7, 2012 | Human Capital Blog Post
Around the country, print, broadcast and online media outlets are covering the groundbreaking work of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) leaders, scholars, fellows and grantees. Some recent examples: Michigan Radio reports on a study led by RWJF ...
February 28, 2013 | Report
A report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Bridging the Gap program finds that progress to improve school district wellness policies has stalled.
December 1, 2012 | Issue Brief
The fast-food industry spends $660 million to market its products to children and adolescents each year and spends the most on toys for kids’ meals—$360 million for the cost of toys alone. These efforts help fast-food restaurants sell more than 1.2 ...
July 1, 2011 | Journal Article
The authors measured sugar-sweetened beverage consumption before and after a district-wide ban on in-school sales of sweetened beverages went into effect. The study found that restricting the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in schools may decrease overall adolescent consumption.
October 1, 2012 | Issue Brief
Participating in school sports is an important means to increase physical activity among adolescents. This brief examines participation during the school year by secondary school students in interscholastic sports (played against teams from other sc ...
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.