This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

AMA adopts new policy to lower sugar-sweetened beverage intake

AMA delegates approved a new policy during their annual meeting intended to reduce the amount of sugar Americans receive from beverages, according to a press release.

“Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to some of the nation’s most debilitating diseases, and limiting the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages will go a long way toward helping people prevent the onset of these diseases, improve health outcomes, and rein in health costs associated with chronic diseases,” William E. Kobler, MD, AMA board member, said in the release.

The organization noted that FDA data indicate that on average, Americans get 16% of their total calories from added sugars that provide no nutritional value, and pointed out that a study also found that a majority of U.S. adults consume more added sugar than recommended for a healthy diet.

According to the release, the new policy calls for:

encouraging physicians to counsel their patients about the health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and importance of replacing these drinks with healthier beverage choices;

working with school districts to promote healthy beverage choices for students;

supporting evidence-based strategies to reduce the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, such as excise taxes, eliminating options to purchase them in primary and secondary schools, utilizing warning labels to inform consumers about the health consequences of consuming them, and using plain packaging;

continuing research into other strategies that may be effective in curtailing sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, such as controlling portion sizes, limiting options to purchase or access them in early childcare settings, public venues and workplaces, restrictions on marketing them to children, and changes to the agricultural subsidies system; and

encouraging hospitals and medical facilities to offer healthier beverages, such as coffee, unflavored milk, unsweetened tea, and water for purchase instead of sugar-sweetened beverages and to display calorie counts next to the price of beverages sold in their vending machines.

The AMA already has a policy to ensure Americans better comprehend the actual amount of sugar contained in the foods they consume, including policy in support of the FDA’s proposal to include added sugars on nutrition labels, according to the release. – by Janel Miller

Disclosure: Healio Family Medicine was unable to confirm Kobler’s relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.