Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | 2:01 a.m.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
View more of the Sun's opinion section
In reference to the July 8 article, “So. Nevada officials push Soda Free Summer pledge,” it’s discouraging to see that Clark County is oversimplifying what it means to make a “lasting commitment to health” by singling out soda.
The most recent data from the federal government show that kids ages 12 to 17 years consumed 42 percent less sugar from soda in 2008 than in 2000. That’s a significant decline. There was also a decline in the amount of sugar this age group consumed from fruit drinks and sports drinks.
Americans eat far more calories today than 30 years ago. But recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that more than half of the increase in calories comes from fats and oils; calories from sugar account for only 7 percent. Getting serious about health requires that we take a total diet approach to good health rather than focus on one beverage.
The author is executive director of the California/Nevada Soft Drink Association.
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