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Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner stated in a recent video, “The number one killer of both men and women, in the U.S and right here in Baltimore City is heart disease.”
Wen explained that childhood obesity is an epidemic in the nation and in their city, and a large contributor of this problem is children’s daily consumption of sugary-sweetened beverages.
According to a recent article, Wen stated that one in three school-aged children in Baltimore are overweight and one in four children drink one or more sodas a day.
Latino children are disproportionally at a higher risk for obesity, diabetes and heart disease, not to mention that they are also larger consumers of sugary-sweetened beverages, studies show.
About 22 percent of Latino high-school students have three or more sugary drinks a day.
The city’s Councilman Nick Mosby has already introduced a bill for warning labels on sugary drinks within the city, hoping to educate children about the risks associated with consumption.
Other initiatives for access to healthier foods and beverages has also made impact in the city’s healthier vending options.
The city is now encouraging the city’s youth to #Rethinkyourdrink with an educational campaign, in hopes to bring more awareness and support to the city’s overall public health efforts.
By The Numbers
1
Supermarket
for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood
