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In efforts to help decrease the rising obesity rates in France, the government has banned all fast-food restaurants, including many American chain restaurants from giving consumers free soda refills.
Targeted to the youth, who are facing rising rates of diabetes, the law is working to limit consumption of sugary beverages, which has shown through research to be linked higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and behavior problems.
According to 2014 data, the French are less overweight than Americans, at 15.3% vs Americans at 36.5%, however, France is looking to be ahead of the issue, working to prevent alarming levels of diabetes.
Many countries across the world are working to tackle their rising obesity and diabetes rates, through the World Health Organizations recommendation to tax sugary beverages.
Latinos in Mexico, often more prone chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, have taxed sugary beverages and in turn, consumption has decreased.
Cities in America are continuing to work towards taxing sugary beverages for the health of their communities and to decrease the continually rising rates of children consuming these beverages.
In fact, latino kids have increased their consumption of sugary drinks such as soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and flavored milk between 1991 and 2008 and as many as 74% of Latinos have had a sugary beverage by age 2.
Children and teens who are obese can also face heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, cancer, and asthma. On a psychological level, they can be bullied and have low self-esteem.
To learn more about the dangers of sugary beverages and it impacts on Latino kids, click here.
By The Numbers
74
percent
of Latino kids have had a sugary drink by age 2 (vs. 45% of white kids)
