Saturday, November 21, 2015

Explosive Problem

A forum of nationally recognized experts gathered Nov. 13 to discuss the sugar-fueled diabetes epidemic that’s costing billions.

The obesity epidemic that began about 15 years ago has resulted a new health crisis: a diabetes epidemic.

In a Nov. 13 forum at National University in La Jolla, California, a panel of nationally recognized experts gathered to talk about solutions for reducing the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages. Each of the speakers talked about the terrifying increase in the incidence of diabetes.

“Diabetes rates have tripled in 30 years,” said panel moderator Harold Goldstein, founder and executive director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy. “It’s the primary driver of increased health-care costs in the United States.”

While sugar-sweetened beverages—soda, juices, sports drinks—are not the only cause of skyrocketing obesity and diabetes rates, they are the primary culprit, Goldstein said.

“Half of all the sugar we consume comes from sugar-sweetened beverages,” he said.

Each expert who took the floor agreed: The crisis that threatens to overwhelm our health-care system will not be stopped without a fight.

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