Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) position statement: Enact taxes on sugar sweetened beverages to prevent chronic disease

Taber, Daniel R.; Dulin‐Keita, Akilah; Fallon, Megan; Chaloupka, Frank J.; Andreyeva, Tatiana; Schwartz, Marlene B.; Harris, Jennifer L.

doi:10.1093/tbm/iby035

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…63,64 United Kingdom: Institute for Economic Affairs, UK Tax Payers' Alliance and campaign group 'People Against the Sugar Tax'. 58 Health professionals Supported by US Society of Behavioral Medicine, 65 Dietitians of Canada, 66 British Medical Association (sugar tax with fruit and veg subsidy) 67 and other UK medical bodies. 68 In a UK government consultation on SSB levy, 95% of medical and health bodies were supportive.…”

Section: Acceptability To Stakeholdersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Costs, equity and acceptability of three policies to prevent obesity: A narrative review to support policy development

Lobstein

Neveux

Landon

2020

Obesity Science & Practice

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Obesity prevention policies are a priority for many governments and intergovernmental agencies. Policy makers not only use systematic reviews of effectiveness but also consider contextual issues including cost and cost-effectiveness, equity, rights, acceptability and feasibility. To support their work, the present narrative review examines three contextual issues (costs, equity and acceptability) in relation to three policies for obesity prevention: sweetened beverage taxes, front-of-pack nutrition labelling and restrictions on advertising to children. Literature searches led to over 1100 documents, of which 125 informed the present review. Beverage taxes were found likely to be highly cost-effective, moderately favourable for health equity, supported by the public (depending on the use of revenues) and by health professionals and civil society groups and opposed by commercial interests. Depending on the design, front-of-pack nutritional labelling is likely to be highly cost-effective, moderately favourable for health equity, supported by the public, health professionals and civil society groups, and opposed by commercial interests. Restrictions on child-directed advertising are likely to be highly cost-effective in the longer term, moderately favourable for health equity, supported by the public, health professionals and civil society groups and opposed by commercial interests (unless voluntary). The evidence base needs strengthening, but the authors find that all three policies merit consideration by governmental authorities, and should be implemented to reduce obesity risk.

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Section: Acceptability To Stakeholdersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Costs, equity and acceptability of three policies to prevent obesity: A narrative review to support policy development

Lobstein

Neveux

Landon

2020

Obesity Science & Practice

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“…Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) that increase the price of the beverage and thereby reduce its accessibility, have emerged as an effective policy solution to counter increased consumption [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. This has been demonstrated not only in modeling studies but also in real-world evaluations [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Results of a Mass Media Campaign in South Africa to Promote a Sugary Drinks Tax

et al. 2020

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Background: In South Africa, the increased consumption of sugary drinks has been associated with increased obesity rates. Mass media campaigns can play a crucial role in improving knowledge, shifting attitudes, and building support for government action on reducing sugary drink consumption. No study to date has evaluated the effectiveness of mass media campaigns on the health harms of sugary drinks in South Africa. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a mass media campaign on knowledge and attitudes around sugary drinks and on public support for a proposed tax on sugary drinks in South Africa. Methods: The “Are You Drinking Yourself Sick?” campaign aired in South Africa from October 2016 to June 2017 to shift attitudes toward sugary drinks, build personal risk perceptions of the health harms of consuming sugary drinks, and build public support for a proposed tax on sugary drinks. Campaign impact was measured in representative cross-sectional household surveys of adults ages 18 to 56. The surveys were conducted just prior to the launch of the campaign (N = 1000), from October 7 to 10, 2016, and immediately following its conclusion (N = 1000), from July 12 to 21, 2017. Campaign impact was assessed by comparing changes from the pre-campaign to the post-campaign period on key outcome indicators. In addition, the effect of campaign awareness was analyzed in logistic regression analysis of the post-campaign data. Results: The campaign was recalled by 55% of survey respondents, and 78% of campaign-aware respondents said that the campaign’s main message was “drinking sugary drinks can make you sick.” There were significant changes from the pre- to the post-campaign period in knowledge that sugary drink consumption can lead to obesity and related health problems and that sugary drinks contribute toward the obesity problem in South Africa. Campaign awareness was also significantly associated with increases in knowledge about the harms of sugary drinks, and in particular, on government action, including the proposed tax on sugary drinks. Discussion: Media campaigns are an effective intervention for obesity prevention. In addition to improving knowledge and shifting attitudes, media campaigns can effectively build public support for strong government action and therefore must be a component of a comprehensive obesity prevention approach.

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“…It is critical to better understand if beverages lead to differential effects on body weight and health compared to solid foods. Public health policies are specifically targeting SSB intake [46][47][48][49], but not solid foods that are high in added sugar (e.g., candy, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries). This suggests that regulation of SSBs rather than sugar in all forms may be viewed as an especially effective means to prevent weight gain and poor cardiometabolic health [50,51].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This knowledge gap is particularly concerning given the focus on taxing SSBs. For example, the Society for Behavioral Medicine has chosen to recommend an excise tax of at least 20% specifically on SSBs [49]. Yet, more evidence is needed [52][53][54] to inform policy directives and decisions and perhaps the lack of empirical data in this area has led to seemingly disparate recommendations by organizations and local policy makers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of the form of sugar (solid vs. beverage) on body weight and fMRI activation: A randomized controlled pilot study

et al. 2021

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Objective To test if sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) and sugar sweetened solids (SSSs) have differential effects on body weight and reward processing in the brain. Methods In a single blind randomized controlled pilot trial (RCT), twenty participants with BMI between 20 and 40 kg/m2 were randomized to consume a 20 fluid ounce soda (SSB, 248 kcal) or the equivalent in solid form (SSS; similar to thick gelatin or gummy candy) daily. At baseline and day 28, fasting body weight and fed-state BOLD fMRI of the brain were assessed. Differences in fMRI signals between views of low-fat (LF (<30%)) high sugar (HS (>30%)) food, and non-food images were calculated in brain regions implicated in energy homeostasis, taste, and reward. Results All participants in the SSB (6F 4M; 8 Caucasian; 36±14 y, 28.2±5.5 kg/m2; Mean±SD) and SSS (3F 7M; 6 Caucasian; 39±12; 26.3±4.4) groups completed the study. Weight change was 0.27±0.78 kg between SSB and SSS participants. Changes in the fMRI response to LF/HS foods in reward, homeostatic and taste regions tended to not be different between the groups over the four weeks. However, activation of the right substantia nigra increased following the SSB but decreased activation following the SSS in response to LF/HS foods over 28 days (-0.32±0.12). Ratings of wanting for LF/HS foods were correlated with activation in several brain regions, including the OFC. Conclusions Change in weight was modest between the groups in this study. Daily consumption of a SSB over 28 days led to mixed responses to LF/HS foods in areas of the brain associated with reward. Ratings of wanting are correlated with fMRI activation inside an MRI scanner.

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Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) position statement: Enact taxes on sugar sweetened beverages to prevent chronic disease

Cited by 5 publications

References 16 publications

Costs, equity and acceptability of three policies to prevent obesity: A narrative review to support policy development

Costs, equity and acceptability of three policies to prevent obesity: A narrative review to support policy development

Results of a Mass Media Campaign in South Africa to Promote a Sugary Drinks Tax

The effects of the form of sugar (solid vs. beverage) on body weight and fMRI activation: A randomized controlled pilot study

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