BY: Sana Ullah Ghumman
Obesity has emerged as a global health problem. According to WHO estimates, 1.6
billion adults worldwide were overweight and at least 400 million were obese.
Epidemic studies indicate that overweight and obesity are important risk factors for
Non communicable Diseases like cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2
diabetes and some types of cancer. Consumption of Sugar Sweetened Beverages is
a major cause of obesity. Sugar Sweetened Beverages include any liquid with added
sugar or other sweetener like high fructose, corn syrup, sucrose, fruit juice
concentrates and more. This includes soda, cola, energy drinks, packed fruit juices
and flavored milks.
Situation in Pakistan is even worse. According to report of National Step Survey for
Non communicable diseases (2014 – 15) carried out by WHO and by Pakistan
Health Research Council 41.3 % adults in Pakistan were obese or overweight and
37% have hypertension. International Diabetic Federation report for 2021 shows
alarming figures that Pakistan has the 3
rd highest burden of type 2 diabetes
worldwide with over 33 million cases. National Nutrition Survey (2018) indicates that
overweight and obesity in the women of reproductive age (WRA) has increased
from 28 % to 38 % from 2011 to 2018. The prevalence of overweight under 5 years
has almost doubled in this period. According to WHO, NCDs have caused over
800,000 deaths in Pakistan in 2016. International Diabetic Federation (2021) report
shows that nearly 400,000 deaths are attributed to diabetes and its complications.
1100 lives per day lost due to diabetes.
In 2015 cost of obesity was estimated to be 428 billion Pak rupees. According to
IDF (2021) report, expenditures to manage diabetes were 2640 million US$.
We need to understand why these SSBs are dangerous to health. The amount of
sugar in one serving is very high. There are 4.2 grams of sugar in a single teaspoon
and there are 7 – 9 teaspoons in one serving. These drinks provide so many calories
and no other nutrients. People who drink sugary beverages do not feel full as if they
had eaten the same amount of solid food. The average can of sugar-sweetened
soda of fruit punch provides about 150 calories, almost all them from added sugar.
This increase the risk to gain weight and with that increase the risk of type 2
diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and other diseases. Furthermore, higher
consumption of sugary beverages has been linked with an increased risk of
premature death. In Pakistan domestic use of sugary drinks has increased a lot in
last 15 years.
These eye-opening and alarming facts and figures show that we are in a quite
miserable and crisis like situation and need to work on war footings to tackle the
situation otherwise our public health system will collapse. Sugary drinks are major
contributors of obesity and consumption of Sugary Drinks has increased manifold in
recent years. We need to look how other countries have managed this situation. Are
there any success stories in combating the consumption of SSBs and can we
replicate them in Pakistan?
Global Practices to Combat Sugar Sweetened Beverages:
One of very effective and tested strategy to combat the consumption of SSBs is to
increase the taxes on these drinks to reduce their consumption. More than 50
countries in the world have gained remarkable results by increasing the taxes on
sugary drinks. Saudi Arabia has imposed 100 % tax on Energy Drinks and 50 % on
Sodas. This resulted in annual volume of energy drinks reduced to 58% and sodas
to 41%. We have similar examples from India, Maldives, Qatar, Bahrain and many
other countries. In Pakistan tax on SSBs is less as compared to neighboring
countries.
Qatar and Bahrain have also imposed 100 % tax on energy drinks and 50 % on
sweetened aerated drinks. Maldives has imposed a levy of 2.18&/ liter that is equal
to Rs. 235/L. Due to current alarming situation people are in favor of increasing taxes
on SSBs. According to result of an opinion poll conducted by Pakistan National Heart
Association (PANAH), 78% adult Pakistanis support increasing taxes on SSBs. 85.3
% discourage the consumption of junk food and 84.4 % were in favor to use this
additional amount in public health sector.
This is the need of hour that departments, legislators and FBR shall take it as a top
priority to make policies to increase tax on SSBs and ensure its implementation to
save public health. If in countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain where people
have more purchasing power, consumption has reduced after increasing taxes, in
Pakistan results would be even better. This would not only reduce the consumption
of SSBs and improve public health but also will increase the revenue of the
government which is a win – win situation for the country
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