Sugary beverages are a hot topic as of late. From proposed soda taxes to outright removal of soda in some organizations, it is clear that there is a movement to reduce the consumption of these calorically-rich, nutritionally-empty drinks. With more than 24,000 employees, The University of California-San Francisco is perhaps the largest institution to take action systematically thus far. Sugary drinks were removed from every outlet on campus, including fast-food chains and replaced with diet beverages and fruit juices with no added sugar.
Being a public institution that also conducts health research, UCSF researchers not only wanted to reduce consumption, but also set out to study whether any impact on metabolic systems would also be measurable as a result of this policy change. One researcher also cited the moral implications of profiting off of something that is known contribute to adverse health effects. Researchers are studying 214 employees and looking at the impact on weight loss, liver health, insulin resistance, and telomeres. Although the study is still in progress a survey of over 2,500 employees found that soda consumption among employees dropped by a quarter, a significant overall decrease.
The article mentions the beverage industry fighting back with the argument that restrictions and taxes hurt the poor. My question, then, is: What is the definition of “hurt”? If allowing “the poor” – and, in most cases, the least educated in terms of nutrition and health outcomes – easy access to sugary beverages by keeping the prices low, then who is really doing the hurting of this population in need? It is a moral and a money question that is not easily answered.
Early results from the UCSF study show that participants have lost weight, and, despite early resistance to the policy change, they are now glad their employer has removed the sugary sodas. Once long term results have been reported, it will be especially interesting to see whether UCSF employees maintained lower sugar consumption or whether they replaced soda with other high-sugar foods while at work. If they maintain lower sugar intake, UCSF will become an example for schools and employers throughout the country that not only improves the waistline, but the bottom line.
O’connor, A. (2016). Putting Sugary Soda Out of Reach. Retrieved November 06, 2016, from