Ethics and obesity prevention: Ethical considerations in 3 approaches to reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages

N. Kass, K. Hecht, A. Paul and K. Birnbach

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 5, 787-795

Abstract: Obesity and overweight prevalence soared to unprecedented levels in the United States, with 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 6 children currently categorized as obese. Althoughmany approaches have been taken to encourage individual behavior change, policies increasingly attempt to modify environments to have a more positive influence on individuals' food and drink choices. Several policy proposals target sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), consumption of which has become the largest contributor to Americans' caloric intake. Yet proposals have been criticized for unduly inhibiting choice, being overly paternalistic, and stigmatizing low-income populations. We explored the ethical acceptability of 3 approaches to reduce SSB consumption: restricting sale of SSBs in public schools, levying significant taxes on SSBs, and prohibiting the use of Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) benefits for SSB purchases.

Keywords: article; beverage; ethics; food assistance; health care policy; human; legal aspect; obesity; prevalence; public health; school; sugar intake; tax; United States, Beverages; Dietary Sucrose; Food Assistance; Health Policy; Humans; Obesity; Overweight; Prevalence; Public Health; Schools; Taxes; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301708_7

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301708

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