- Since 1990, the number of overweight Australians has tripled.
- And, in the last four years alone, there has been a 70 per cent increase in kids being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
- A global review of sugar-related research has also revealed that soft drink consumption is strongly associated with obesity.
A recently released mini-doco created by The New York Times has delved into the impact of sugar consumption on the lives of Australians.
While the sugarcane business might be the lifeblood of regional Mackay, its impact on the rest of the country is worrying. And, new research has found that it’s not what you eat, but the sugar you drink that is causing the biggest problem!
From the 1960s to the 1990s, soft drink consumption more than doubled in Australia. A global review (which collected data from over 250,000 people, including Aussies), found that soft drinks, energy drinks and juices with added sugar are playing a massive role in obesity rates for both adults and kids. And, this research also revealed that these results were independent of other lifestyle factors, including whether the individuals ate junk food or not.
The amount of weight loss surgeries has also doubled in the past decade – with some doctors recommending these operations for kids as young as 11 years old. With an estimated $58 billion being spent on annual healthcare costs related to obesity and diabetes in Australia, we think the argument for a sugar tax is now well and truly overdue. How much longer can we really wait?
Help end the obesity crisis by signing our sugar tax petition!
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