More Than Half of Philadelphians Support a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, New Poll Finds

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A new poll commissioned by the Campaign for Healthy Kids found that 55 percent of likely Philadelphia voters would support taxation equal to 2 cents per ounce on sugar-sweetened beverages if funding was dedicated to support programs to combat childhood obesity.

"Childhood obesity is an epidemic in Philadelphia and across the country," said Andrew Hysell, Project Director for the Campaign for Healthy Kids.  "In fact, today's children could be the first generation in U.S. history to live sicker and die younger than their parents' generation. The majority of Philadelphia voters support the sugar-sweetened beverage tax as part of a public health policy to combat the childhood obesity epidemic."  

Obesity in children has steadily risen in recent decades, putting them at risk for serious, even life-threatening diseases that were once only seen in adults, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda and sweet teas, are the single largest contributor of calorie intake in Americans' diets and, with little or no nutritional value, are a major source of empty calories for children.

More than 57 percent of Philadelphia's kids between 6 and 11 are overweight or obese. In some areas, like Upper North Philadelphia, nearly 70 percent of children are overweight or obese.

"The American Heart Association is pleased to see that a majority of Philadelphians support a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages that dedicates funds to increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in every neighborhood in Philadelphia.  Sugar- sweetened beverages are the largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet and added sugars play a key role in the epidemic of childhood obesity," said Jonathan Kirch, State Advocacy Director of the American Heart Association.

John Weidman, Deputy Executive Director of the Food Trust, also commented on the poll's findings. "The Food Trust supports policies that make healthy food more accessible as well as those that work to limit the consumption of empty calories.  It's exciting to see that strong majorities of Philadelphians support these common sense ideas as well."

The poll found that:

• Almost nine in ten voters (87 percent) express concern about rates of obesity among children in Philadelphia.

• More than six in ten voters (64 percent) strongly support increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the city and rewarding low-income Philadelphians who purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with food stamps, particularly at farmers markets.

• Among the other suggested methods to reduce the city's projected $700 million shortfall – like a flat fee for garbage collection, an increase in property taxes, business taxes or a sales tax – a tax on sugar-sweetened beverage was the most popular among Philadelphians surveyed.

About the Campaign for Healthy Kids

The Campaign for Healthy Kids works to advance policies to prevent and reduce childhood obesity in states where the epidemic is most prevalent.  By providing strategic consultation, advocacy support and communications expertise to coalitions working on the ground in the nation's hardest-hit regions, the Campaign seeks to accomplish real and lasting change for the children affected by this epidemic. Visit www.campaignforhealthykids.org.

SOURCE Campaign for Healthy Kids