By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
TechnoclinicTechnoclinic
  • Home
  • APPS
  • CAMERAS
    • PRINTERS
  • GAMING
    • LAPTOPS
  • HDTV
  • NEWS
  • PHONES
    • TABLETS
  • REVIEWS
  • SOFTWARE
  • Contact Us!
Search
  • Home
  • Contact Us!
  • Privacy Policy
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Will a tax on sugar cure obesity?
Share
Sign In
Aa
TechnoclinicTechnoclinic
Aa
Search
  • Home
  • APPS
  • CAMERAS
    • PRINTERS
  • GAMING
    • LAPTOPS
  • HDTV
  • NEWS
  • PHONES
    • TABLETS
  • REVIEWS
  • SOFTWARE
  • Contact Us!
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Home
  • Contact Us!
  • Privacy Policy
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Technoclinic > NEWS > Will a tax on sugar cure obesity?
NEWS

Will a tax on sugar cure obesity?

srijita
Last updated: 2016/02/16 at 6:16 AM
srijita
Share
SHARE
sugar
(Fotolia)

Thirty-five years ago, I warned readers about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption and labelled sugar the “white devil”. The sugar industry was not amused, and complained to the College of Physicians and Surgeons that I should be disciplined. I won, after a trying, difficult battle. How things change.

Five countries currently have a sugar tax. Now the British are debating the merits of a 20% tax on high sugar products to help fight the obesity epidemic and Type 2 diabetes.

Why this change of heart? Dr. Simon Capewell, UK vice-president of health policy, said in an interview that the “public opinion on a sugar tax is shifting. The majority of parents are angry that their children are being made fat”. He adds, “It’s a matter of when, not if it’s going to happen.”

The late Dr. John Yudkin, who was a professor of physiology at London University, reported in 1972 that sugar (sucrose) is dangerous as well as sweet. He showed that as the intake of sugar increased worldwide, so did the number of people suffering from heart disease.

In a 1964 experiment in the U.S.,prisoners in a locked ward were given different diets with and without sucrose. This proved that whenever sucrose was added, it increased the level of blood cholesterol.

The sugar bowl is not the main problem. It’s the hidden sugar in so many products. For instance, the publication Consumer Reports on Health says, “Who would think that one slice of whole wheat bread would contain almost one teaspoon of sugar?” It adds that food companies toss added sugar into almost 75% of packaged foods, including nutritious sounding names such as instant oatmeal.

So can you lose weight by decreasing the amount of dietary sugar? In one study, 43 obese children ate the same amount of calories, but decreased added sugars from 28% of their daily calories to 10% for nine days. There was no change in weight, but their cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar and insulin levels all dropped. Their weight remained the same, as the amount of calories did not change. No one should ever forget the word “calorie”.

But does a tax on sugary drinks guarantee less obesity and Type 2 diabetes? According to a Mexican study, a tax had no effect. Why? It helped to decrease consumption of sugary drinks, but you may have guessed it, Mexicans simply switched to other products, ending up with the same number of calories. A lose-lose experiment.

I’m no friend of the sugar industry. Soft drinks are really liquid candy. But in all fairness to it, obesity results from too many calories in all types of food. I see this when I travel to the U.S. and see restaurants with signs advertising “All you can eat.”

My patients must have become tired of me saying, “Buy a bathroom scale and step on it every day.” Of course this is not the be-all-and-end-all solution to obesity. But you never have to face the surprise that you’ve gained 40 pounds.

One thing is certain. You need to be a nutritionist to understand the sugar labels on food products. But it would help if labels showed what we all understand, what a teaspoon of sugar looks like.

Maybe some people would then think twice about consuming too much sugar when a cola can contains a picture of 9 teaspoons of sugar, a chocolate bar 6, a bowl of Raisin Bran or Frosted Flakes 9, Sponge Cake 8, and even a banana, 4.

The fact is that, unless you have been living on Mars, you don’t have to be a nutritionist to know that rich desserts, cookies and other goodies like ice cream contain large amounts of sugar. Unless you learn to say “no” more often than you say “yes”, you will never beat obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

The sad news is that calories do count. In case you believe that by exercising, you can say “yes” more often than “no”, you’ll find calories always win. It will happen whether there is a sugar tax or not.

See the website Docgiff.com. For comments, [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE: The column does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure disease. Please contact your doctor. The information provided is for informational purposes only and are the views solely of the author.

[“source-winnipegsun”]

TAGGED: A, cure, obesity?, on, sugar, Tax, Will

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
srijita February 16, 2016
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Pfizer recalls liquid Advil products for kids over ibuprofen dosage
Next Article Moto X Force Review

Latest News

What’s in the Xbox Series?
NEWS
The Purpose of End Seals
NEWS
Everything You Need to Know About Printing Repair
NEWS
Ways You Can Do to Avoid Data Breaches
NEWS
5 Ways to Enhance the Ambiance of Bar
NEWS
How Survey Software Measures Customer Satisfaction
NEWS

Most Viewed Posts

  • 30+ Great Examples of Gaming Blogs (2022) (3)
  • Peer review innovations aiming to support science and reward reviewers (3)
  • Google Says G’day to Australian Twang, Slang (3)
  • Ways You Can Do to Avoid Data Breaches (2)
  • How To Start A Review Blog and Get Free Review Products (2)

© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

[mc4wp_form]
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?