Monday, September 04, 2006

We'll decide what's good for you & MAKE $$$$$$!!!

From Associated Press:

Nutritionist: Tax Sugary Drinks To Fight Obesity
Drinks Should Be Taxed Like Cigarettes, Alcohol, Popkin Says
POSTED: 4:46 am PDT September 4, 2006

SYDNEY, Australia -- A leading nutritionist said we're "drinking ourselves into obesity" and sugary drinks should be taxed like cigarettes and alcohol.

The University of North Carolina's Barry Popkin said Americans are gulping down more sodas, fruit juices and sugar-laden energy drinks than ever before.

But he added, people aren't cutting their food intake to compensate for the extra calories.

Popkin thinks one way to slow that trend is to put a high tax on the high-calorie sweeteners used in soft drinks.

He said if those drinks were more expensive, people might drink more milk, juice or water.

Another researcher at the international obesity conference in Australia said sugar's just one factor in weight gain.

He said the key to a healthy lifestyle is "balance and variety and moderation."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.

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