RESULTS
YES	42%
NO	58%

DATE : 3.8.2010
Title : Disease

The relationship between obesity and other serious health problems causing disease and death on a massive scale, as well as raising the costs of health care enormously, has continued to be established by numerous studies, with sugary soda and junk food shown as major causes. Meanwhile, two important studies were released today on how his can be countered, both hailed by health advocates, but with one supported and one opposed by the soda industry. The American Beverage Association, which represents major soft drink companies, has released a report showing a 95 percent decline in sales of full-calorie soft drinks to schools between 2004 and 2009. The decline appears related to voluntary guidelines adopted by the industry in 2006 under an agreement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of former President Bill Clinton's foundation and the American Heart Association. At the same time, however, while the obesity crisis continues, the beverage association opposes what many public health experts, groups and public policy-makers believe is needed--higher taxes on sugared beverages and junk food. A new 20-year-long study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows the higher the prices of junk foods, the less likely people are to consume them. The researchers, from the University of North Carolina, found that a 10-per cent increase in price in soft drinks led to a 7 per cent decrease in the amount of calories consumed from them. The study estimates an 18-per cent tax on junk foods would result in a weight loss of about five pounds per person per year. In an editorial accompanying the study, Dr. Mitchell H. Katz, of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, endorse higher junk food taxes. "More substantial surcharges may decrease the consumption of sweetened beverages and, equally important, increase the consumption of more healthful alternatives," they write, adding that by emulating the "successful tactic of anti-tobacco crusaders", funds could be used to counter the huge amounts spent by soda and junk food companies on advertising.

Given the new 20-year study showing that higher taxes on sugary soft drinks and junk food would reduce obesity--and the enormous degree of death, disease and cost to society as a result--do you agree with the researchers and virtually all public health officials, that governments should emulate the success in the war against tobacco, raise taxes on sugary soft drinks and junk food to levels the study shows will have a substantial impact in lowering obesity, and use the funds to counter the huge amounts spent on advertising by soft drink and junk food companies?