Beverage companies spent $866 million to advertise unhealthy drinks in 2013, and children and teens remained key target audiences for that advertising, according to a new report released today by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The report, Sugary Drink FACTS 2014, highlights some progress regarding beverage marketing to young people, but also shows that companies still have a long way to go to improve their marketing practices and the nutritional quality of their products to support young people’s health.

In 2011 the first Sugary Drink FACTS provided a comprehensive analysis of the nutrition of sugary drinks and how they are marketed to young people. Three years later– using the same methods as the original Sugary Drink FACTS – Sugary Drink FACTS 2014 reveals how the sugary drink nutrition and marketing landscape has changed.

Obesity is associated with significant increases in absenteeism among American workers and costs the nation over $8 billion per year in lost productivity, according to a study recently published by Yale’s Rudd Center researchers. The study suggests that the health consequences of obesity negatively impact the workforce, and in turn create a significant financial challenge for the nation as well as individual states. The authors assert that policy solutions are needed to reduce these costs. 

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Full citation: Puhl R, Kyle T. Pervasive Bias: An Obstacle to Obesity Solutions. NAM Perspectives. 2014;4(9). https://doi.org/10.31478/201409e

Soda companies spend big money to influence public health initiatives meant to decrease sugary drink consumption. But policies like taxes on sugary beverages can encourage people to make healthier choices. The beverage industry is doing everything in its power to keep that from happening.

Despite the prevalence and health consequences of eating disorders and weight-related bullying and discrimination, policy actions to address these problems are currently limited. However, there is significant support among American adults and experts in eating disorders for a range of policy initiatives to address these issues, according to a study led by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. The study is published online in BMC Public Health.