Editor's Note: Weight management is a crucial health issue impacting food policy, consumer food trends and food product development strategies. The issue has many controversial aspects. The following is an Internet version of an article titled, "Taxing Caloric Sweetened Beverages to Curb Obesity," first appearing in the September 2010 issue of Amber Waves, published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (ERS). See more information at the end of this article.
Obesity among the U.S. population has increased markedly over the past three decades. Two thirds of U.S. adults are now either overweight or obese, and growing numbers of children are overweight, as well. Studies by nutritionists and epidemiologists suggest consuming beverages sweetened with sucrose (sugar) and/or high-fructose and other corn syrups is linked to risks for obesity and diabetes. Many public health advocates are calling for taxes on these caloric sweetened beverages as a way to reduce consumption and raise revenue for obesity-prevention programs.