Sugary Drinks and Obesity in the Us

SUGARY DRINKS AND OBESITY IN THE US

Introduction

Contemporarily, there are various issues facing the U.S which can be said to have been given rise to by the setting of priorities as well as the legislative agenda by the government and the congress. Some of the major challenges include critical issues attributable to healthcare system of the nation. The purpose of this paper is to establish and address the issues that impact the public in the United States.

The problem

According to New York Times, serving size of soda as well as other beverages that are sugar sweetened in movie theatres, street carts and restaurants has been identified as an issue that has an effect on the lives of the citizens of the United States. The editor of this article asserts that too much intake of soda and sweetened beverages increases the possibility of a person developing obesity.

Review of the literature

Soft drinks such as soda are constituted of extremely high levels of sugar as well as calories. In the findings of the research by Hector, et al. (2009), a standard can of manufactured soda is approximately 12 ounces. In addition to this, this can is contained of sweeteners which are equivalent to 10 table spoonful of sugar as well as approximately 150 calories. The research further established that, by consuming excess soda or even diet soft drinks say 2 cans, the calories adds up and as such, there is a bigger likelihood that the person will experience a weight gain, which will exceed 2 pounds in that month. The researcher further uses logic by indicating that, in a year, the person will have gained 20 pounds or even more (Grynbaum, 2012).

According to the findings of the research conducted by Ogden, Kit, Carroll, and Park (2011), the effect of sugary beverages is insignificant as compared to soda as well as sugary drinks. Further, the findings indicate that sugar sweetened drinks are among the main reasons why obesity has emerged as a pandemic in the United States. Precisely, obesity, stroke as well as coronary artery disease are brought about by too much consumption of sweetened drinks (Waillet, 2012).

In a research conducted by Children's Hospital Colorado (2012), 82,902 female nurses were identified. At the beginning of the study, their health as well as diet was established and as such, none of them had any complication. After 12 years, information about the same was taken and it was found out that about 2,718 had developed obesity. According to the researcher, most of these people who developed the condition consumed large amounts of soda and sweetened drinks.

According to most researchers, rather than taking sugary drinks, a person who prefers to take a glass of plain water every day indeed is in deed likely to reduce the risk of contacting type 2 diabetes as well as obesity.