The Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), which includes the Sudbury and District Health Unit, is calling on the Ontario government to develop a provincewide comprehensive strategy to promote healthy eating.
Referencing recommendations in the recent Senate report Obesity in Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation position statement Sugar, Heart Disease and Stroke alPHa singled out a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as an essential component of a healthy eating strategy.
Specific policy measures such as taxation as part of a larger strategy can have a measurable impact on what people buy and consume. Results from Mexico and other jurisdictions have proven that taxation is a successful measure to reduce sugary drink intake.
“You can draw a straight line from sugary drinks to obesity and huge costs to the health system,” said Dr. Chris Mackie, vice-chair of the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health, in a press relase. “With 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of pop and super-sized beverages having as much as 35 teaspoons, overconsuming these drinks can cause health problems. A tax on sugary drinks merits consideration and it’s surprising this hasn’t been discussed sooner.”
Consuming too much sugar is linked to heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions. The Heart and Stroke Foundation position statement recommends added (or “free”) sugar intake not exceed 10 per cent of daily calories.
“There are so many factors that contribute to obesity and chronic illnesses. It’s not just about one magic bullet; we need a multi-sectoral and multi-pronged approach to address these factors,” said Dr. Valerie Jaeger, president of alPHa, in a press release. “We believe that now is a good time for the Government of Ontario to take up the call for a comprehensive province-wide approach to promote and support healthy eating."
Evidence shows that a higher intake of sugar sweetened beverages in children has been associated with a 55 per cent increased risk of being overweight or obese. Prevalence of overweight children in Ontario has increased from 14 per cent to 19 per cent and obesity has increased from three to nine per cent.
Past alPHa resolutions that support healthy eating include support for a ban on advertising to children and recommendations to reduce sodium and trans fat in the food supply.
