AMA Endorses Soda Tax to Help Fight Obesity

The American Medical Association (AMA) has reportedly championed taxes
on sugar-sweetened sodas as a way to fight obesity. Although it failed to pass
a policy that outright supports such a measure, the AMA recognized during
its recent annual meeting that “while a number of factors contribute to the
obesity epidemic, taxes on beverages with added sweeteners are one way to
finance consumer education campaigns and other obesity-related programs.”

To that end, the physicians group voted to adopt a policy supporting obesity-prevention education for children and teens in public schools that encourages doctors to volunteer to teach classes on causes, consequences and prevention. “I can’t tell you the number of 40-pound 1 year-olds I see every day,” pediatrician Melissa Garretson was quoted as saying. See AMA Press Release, June 20, 2012; Associated Press, June 21, 2012.