Unhealthy food corporations use various tactics to undermine public health policies aimed at tackling the scourge of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and obesity.
Taxing sugary drinks to tackle obesity would lead to a stronger economy, new research shows.
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The benefits of a sugar tax go beyond mere health savings when obesity rates drop. Our new research predicts wider economic benefits due to more, healthier people in work.
The type of sugar in popular soft drinks varies from country to country even if the brand name is the same.
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A recent study found Australian soft drinks had higher concentrations of glucose than US soft drinks, which had more fructose. Does this mean Australian drinks are worse for health than US drinks?
People are leading more sedentary lifestyles and eating calorie dense foods fuelling obesity.
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By tweaking the prices of foods and drinks, to make healthy options more affordable relative to the less healthy products, we can influence what people will buy.
The reality is that the move to introduce a sugar tax in South Africa is necessary because of the scourge of non-communicable diseases and obesity in the country.
This was the year of the health review, the NDIS, and Zika virus.
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Health spent a lot of time in the spotlight in 2016. Medicare was a major issue in Australia’s federal election and numerous government reviews into health were announced and reported.
Everyone unknowingly consumes a large amount of added sugar in food products.
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The holiday season has become a jet-fuelled boost of over-indulgence on an already excessive culture of over-consumption. But there are ways to avoid it.
A collaboration of Australia's leading scientists, clinicians and health organisations announce ten priority policy actions needed for Australia to reach its health targets by the year 2025.
A tax on sugary drinks wouldn’t just prevent obesity, it could recoup some of the costs from obesity to the taxpayer.
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Obesity imposes enormous costs on the community, through higher taxes to fund extra government spending on health and from foregone tax revenue because obese people are more likely to be unemployed.
South Africa’s proposed tax on sugary drinks will help improve public health despite the overwrought opposition from the industry.
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The decision to tax sugary drinks in South Africa faces furious industry opposition, but global experience shows industry cannot be trusted to put public health before profits.
A can of regular soft drink contains 39 grams of total sugar, which is about 9 1/3 teaspoons of sugar and more than the recommended daily healthy limit for adults.
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Since Mexico introduced a 10% “tax” on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2014, global political momentum for this form of fiscal policy has been building. Societal interest and support have also grown. Taking…
Educating people about the dangers of sugary drinks has little impact on their consumption and taxing them is unpopular. Luckily, there is a third way.
About 58% of the average household’s food budget is spent on ‘junk’ food.
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The government's focus on treating chronic disease neglects the importance of obesity and the benefits of preventive health measures tailored to gender and socioeconomic circumstances.
Sugary drinks are high in energy and lead to weight gain and obesity.
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