The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in
support of H.1947 and S.1291, identical bills that would:
- Prohibit marketing of
surgery drinks in schools
- Require labels on certain
sugary drink advertisements warning that drinking surgery beverages
contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
- Impose limitations on
sugary beverages in children’s meals at chain restaurants by making
healthier choices be the default beverage.
In 2016, the MMS House of Delegates passed the following
policy:
“The MMS supports, as part of a healthy approach to
childhood nutrition, limiting children’s intake of sugar-sweetened beverages
and overall added sugar.”
The MMS support for H.1947 and S.1291 is consistent with
that policy.
The harmful effects of sugary beverages, especially for
children, is well documented. Sugary
beverage intake is significantly associated with weight gain and obesity. A
child’s risk of becoming obese increases by 60% with each additional sugary
beverage consumed daily. Children who drink carbonated sugary beverages have
almost double the risk of dental cavities. Drinking just one 20-ounce bottle of
a sugary beverage per day can result in gaining 25 extra pounds per year.
The health costs of obesity in the United States are about
$147 billion annually and approximately $3.5 billion in Massachusetts. This bill is a significant step towards
reducing that number by targeting the most vulnerable population – children.
The MMS urges the Committee on Public Health to report H.1947
and S.1291 out of Committee favorably.
