Build Up Catch Up - 1/12/24
SSB tax falling flat?, Swiftie Meme, Next Dietary Guidelines Meeting, Q & A from some of our GROUPS, Valentine's Day in the Build Up Dietitians Amazon Store and more
Nutrition Research of the Week
Sugar Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Taxes
It seems every few years there’s heated conversation about taxing SSB’s, ostensibly in order to decrease consumption and “improve health” - and by “health” it is usually about obesity. You may find when many people talk about SSB they are referring to exclusively or primarily to sodas —when in reality SSB’s are a much larger category. According to the CDC, SSB’s are:
“…regular soda (not sugar-free), fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and coffee and tea beverages with added sugars.”
🔬Recent research in JAMA - Evaluation of Changes in Prices and Purchases Following Implementation of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes Across the US | Health Policy | JAMA Health Forum | JAMA Network was a look at the effect on purchasing of SSB’s in 5 cities when these SSB’s are taxed at a higher rate. The products they specifically looked at were: JUICE DRINKS – CANNED, BOTTLED; CARBONATED BEVERAGES; and SOFT DRINKS – NON-CARBONATED.
(What do you notice is different between the CDC list and list in the research study? Sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and teas are NOT mentioned.)
Study Conclusion: “In this cross-sectional study, SSB taxes led to substantial, consistent declines in SSB purchases across 5 taxed cities following price increases associated with those taxes…”
BUT was the decline in purchasing these particular SSB’s really due to increased prices because of taxes? Haven’t we already been seeing a decline in soda and fruit drink consumption over the past decade? Why are researchers not looking at the full list of what are considered SSB’s?
Bottled water consumption grows, sugary drinks decrease, 10 years in a row – PETplanet
What about energy drinks and sweetened coffee and tea beverages - -which were apparently not looked at or taxed in the JAMA study?
“…coffee consumption among 18-to-24-year-olds is up 21% from January 2021 and a larger share of the age group is drinking coffee than ever before, surpassing the previous record of 50% set in September 2020. This indicates an intermediate-term upward trend of young people drinking coffee.
Younger coffee drinkers — especially 25-to-39-year-olds — continue to drive consumption of espresso-based and non-espresso-based specialty coffee drinks, which includes preparations such as cappuccino, espresso, lattes, frozen blended coffee, cold brew, and nitro coffee…”
What about the increasing consumption of energy drinks which contain caffeine and often sugar? Consumption of caffeinated energy drinks rises in the United States | ScienceDaily.
Bottom Line: If cities/states want to tax SSB that’s their prerogative - but why not tax all SSB’s on the CDC list? Why do researchers often single out sodas and juice drinks as the culprit when it comes to health, when consumption of these beverages has been decreasing anyway? Why are beverages like energy drinks that contain sugar and sweetened tea and coffee (and caffeine) not being considered or counted as consumption habits have changed? And perhaps the biggest question, are these SSB’s responsible for obesity and the myriad of health issues often attributed to them, or are there bigger problems of inequity that should be addressed: access to medical care, availability of food, and safe areas to recreate…but SSB’s, and specifically sugar is just a good scapegoat?
🔥Meme of the Week
Either we have a lot of “Swifties”—-or we just managed to strike a chord with this one…300+ comments and a reach of over 25K over 40K! …and still counting - and that’s doesn’t count Instagram!
To see some of the comments go to our Instagram @Builduprdns page or our Facebook page.
✍Register for Next Dietary Guidelines Meeting
❓🙋♀️Questions in Groups
Careers Group - Build up Dietitians Career Advice | Facebook
Q: Hannah T. - “I am a food service director but also responsible for hiring clinical staff. What are some questions I should ask during an interview for a clinical dietetics position?”
A: Kelly M. - “How to handle a difficult patient? What areas of dietetics to they like working in, dislike working in?” 7 Best Dietitian Interview Questions | Dietitians On Demand Blog
LTC/LTACH/Rehab Group Build Up Dietitians - LTC, LTAC, Geriatric Nutrition & REHAB Group | Facebook
Q: Anonymous - “The activities director told me several residents expressed they wanted to lose weight as a New Year’s resolution. Most of them are w/c (wheelchair) bound. Some have significant wounds. I would consider most of them to be in a good place weight wise even if their BMI may say they are overweight. Any suggestions on how/what to present? I’m not opposed to weight loss but feel for most of them it would put them at risk for impaired nutritional status.”
A. Pat S. - “I would emphasize strength and endurance over weight loss. I don't generally recommend weight loss for my elders, unless the weight gain is causing worsening chronic health issues. What I always tell my elders is they have earned the right to eat what they want, but I do encourage increased activity. I take strolls with them during good weather, even if they are wheelchair bound. I also am working with one of our life enrichment advocates in starting a chair yoga/ movement class.”
📝Last chance - Your Feedback
We’re doing a SURVEY to see what our followers like/don’t like and to help us decide on future plans. Take the survey HERE - it should take 8-10 minutes.
💗💘💟💌Valentine’s Day in the Build Up Dietitian Amazon Store
How about this for a Valentine’s Day gift? click here to see the store with all of our Valentine’s Day picks!
