A moment on the lips, a long term health risk
PARKTOWN – Sugar sweetened beverages are killing the nation just as fast as HIV.
“Individuals around the world have considered putting an age restriction of 18 on cool-drinks,” said Professor Karen Hofman, director of Priceless SA .
At the moment, South Africa is only considering implementing a tax on sugar sweetened beverages (SSB). Priceless SA, (the Priority Cost Effective Lessons for System Strengthening South Africa), has gathered evidence of the impact of SSBs on our economy and how the proposed SSB tax, due for implementation in 2017, would be an effective measure against disease.
Hofman and deputy director, Aviva Tugendhaft, presented part of their research on sugar sweetened beverages, at the Wits School of Public Health in Parktown on 18 May.
Hofman and Tugendhaft believed that a tax would decrease the number of SSB consumers. “Our bodies do not need sugar, we get enough from what we eat. The World Health Organisation says we only need one and a half teaspoons of sugar a day,” Hofman explained.
According to Hofman, a can of cool-drink contains eight teaspoons on average, the equivalent of two and a half donuts, and fruit juice contains 12 teaspoons. Lifestyle diseases, caused by SSBs, cause 40 per cent of deaths in South Africa, the same per cent as HIV.
Excessive amounts of sugar causes obesity and diabetes. Besides our health, SSBs do effect our economy as diabetes is costly for the state to treat. Additional costs to the country will be disability grants and the loss of workers, as diabetes can lead to blindness, amputations and ultimately death.
Hofman and Tugendhaft have found that at the end of three years after the tax has been implemented, the number of obese people in South Africa will decrease by 250 000.
Hofman believes that not only the tax but other regulations should be put in place. SSB manufacturers should print the amount of teaspoons the product contains clearly on the product so that the public can make an educated choice. Manufacturers should not be allowed to advertise in and around schools to break the SSB culture.”We no longer see SSBs as treats, they are now part of every meal,” said Hofman.
Hofman and Tugendhaft’s alternatives to SSBs are water, sparkling water, diluted fruit juice and cordials are acceptable in moderation. “If we do not do implement any prevention policies, the future of our country is bleak in terms of health,” Hofman added.
Details: University of Witwatersrand, 011 717 1000.
