25,000 U.S. Deaths Linked To Sugary Drinks

In a study that’s sure to shake up the soda ban debate, Harvard researchers have linked the sugary drinks to 180,000 deaths a year worldwide, 25,000 in the United States alone.

One on side, there is the doctor overseeing this study stating that ”I think our findings should really impel policymakers to make effective policies to reduce sugary beverage consumption since it causes a significant number of deaths.”

Countering that opinion, many politicians, as well as the American Beverage Association criticized the study.  ”It is simply not the role of government to micro-regulate citizens’ dietary decisions,” Bryant said in a statement. “The responsibility for one’s personal health depends on individual choices about a proper diet and appropriate exercise.”

Where do you stand?  Is limiting serving sizes of sugary drinks reasonable and in the best health interest of millions of consumers…or government overreach? 

By 2030, Obesity Rates Could Top 60% in 13 States

America’s weight report card is in. The grades aren’t good, and they’re on a path to get much worse.

Mississippi had the highest rate, with 34.9% of its residents obese, defined as a body mass index or BMI of 30 or more.

Colorado has the lowest obesity rate, with 20.7% of residents obese. However, by 2030, 13 states could have obesity rates topping 60%, according to the report’s predictions.

“If we stay on the current course, we could see obesity rates that are already unacceptable double in some states.”

People Who Read Food Labels While Shopping Weigh Less

Women who read food labels while doing their shopping weigh over half a stone less than those who ignore them, researchers said.

Consulting labels on food products can prevent obesity, as the body mass index of women who read labels is 1.49 points lower - about 9lbs - than those who do not look at such information, according to a study.

In terms of gender, 58 per cent of men either habitually or always read the information on food packets, but 74 per cent of women do.

Food Industry Ditches Trans Fats, Kids' Cholesterol Levels Drop

A study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a 28 percent drop in the prevalence of elevated total cholesterol among kids since the 1988-94 period, the heyday of trans fats.

So what spurred Big Food to ditch trans fats? The answer is pretty simple. In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration began requiring nutrition labels on foods to include amounts of added trans fats. Once forced to come clean about its use of trans fats, Big Food suddenly lost its appetite for using the heart-ruining product.

School Junk Food Laws May Curb Kids' Obesity

Children in the study gained less weight from fifth through eighth grades if they lived in states with strong, consistent laws versus no laws governing snacks available in schools.  Also, children who were overweight or obese in fifth grade were more likely to reach a healthy weight by eighth grade if they lived in states with the strongest laws.

The 5 Heaviest And 5 Leanest States In America: Where Does Your State Weigh in?

Frightening fact:  In 1996 there weren’t any states where more than 20 percent of the population was obese.  A lot can change in 16 years.  Today, in the least obese state, 21 percent of population is obese. Nationwide, 35.7 percent of adults are obese.

New York Trans Fat Ban Is Working, Study Finds Consumption Is Down

Public health officials had zeroed in on trans fats because they pose a uniquely potent health risk. Adding fewer than 4.5 grams of them to a 2,000-calorie daily diet can increase the risk of coronary heart disease by 23%, studies have found.