Tag: tariffs

Small increases in the cost of soda will have little impact on children

Small scale increases in the cost of soda likely have little impact on childhood obesity, according to a study published in the journal Health Affairs. Soda taxes have been proposed as a means for fighting obesity by several prominent health researchers, and some public health officials have sparked controversy by advocating for steep taxes on soft drinks to deter consumption. Yet, while previous research has shown that increased cost of soda leads to decreased consumption—a 10% price increase corresponds with an 8% reduction—there has been little analysis of how increased cost actually influences weight, and no analysis of this impact on children, they argue. To remedy that, the team of researchers from the RAND Corporation, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Institute for Health Research and Policy used current data on state soda taxes and children’s weight to assess the influence of soda tariffs both on consumption and childhood obesity.

Continue reading… “Soda Tax Will Have Little Impact On Childhood Obesity”