This document outlines the obesity epidemic in Illinois and supports increasing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to help combat obesity. Some key points made include: nearly 1 in 4 Illinois adults are obese, costing the state $3.4 billion annually; 1 in 5 Illinois children are obese, the 4th highest rate nationally; regular SSB consumption increases risk of diseases like diabetes and heart disease; a 1 cent per ounce tax on SSBs could raise $600 million annually for obesity prevention programs. Over 30 organizations in Illinois support such a tax as a way to fund public health initiatives and improve health outcomes.
IPHA Resolution 12 Supporting Principles of a Healthy Sustainable Food System
CPPW Sugar Sweetened Bev fact sheet 5 9_11
1. SUPPORTERS
Illinois Chapter of
American
Communities Putting Prevention to Work Academy of
1010 Lake Street, Suite 430, Oak Park, Illinois 60301 Pediatrics
Making suburban Cook County a
Phone 708.524.5156 Email cppw@phimc.org
healthier place to live, work and play American Cancer
Website www.cookcountypublichealth.org
Society
Fight Obesity and Fund Public Health Prevention Programs American Heart
Association
Decrease consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fund public health
American
prevention programs in the State of Illinois. Academy of
Family Physicians
Nearly 25% of Illinois adults are obese and 37% are overweight.
Illinois Public
Health Institute
Obesity costs the state of Illinois about $3.4 billion dollars a year in direct health care costs. If we do not
address the epidemic of obesity today, projected costs are estimated to be 5 times higher by 2018. Cook County
Department of
One in five Illinois children is obese, the fourth highest rate in the nation and higher than the national Public Health
average.
Northern Illinois
Public Health
The arteries of obese children have stiffness levels that you would expect to see in an adult with heart Consortium
disease, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Public Health
Childhood obesity alone is estimated to cost the country $14 billion annually in health-related expenses, Institute of
Metropolitan
and children covered by Medicaid account for $3 billion of those expenses.
Chicago
Being overweight and obese have been linked to increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Consortium to
hypertension, stroke, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, and more according to the Lower Obesity in
National Center for Health Statistics. Chicago Children
Asian Health
In the US, it is estimated that 100,000 to 300,000 deaths are linked to obesity related-diseases. Coalition
More than 100,000 cases of diabetes over the last decade were likely caused by the rise in consumption Ounce of
of sugar-sweetened beverages, sports drinks, and fruit drinks since 2000, according to the American Prevention Fund
Heart Association.
University of
Illinois Chicago
Regular consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a clear and Health Policy
consistently greater risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, according to the Harvard School of Center
Public Health.
HealthConnect
One
A pricing increase of one penny per ounce on SSBs would reduce consumption by eight to 11%.
Childserv
In Illinois, a penny per ounce increase would result in raising $600 million per year. Funds which could
then be used for health promotion and chronic disease prevention programs, thereby improving the Enlace Chicago
health of future generations.
Corporate
Accountability
13 other states are considering similar legislation as a way to combat obesity. International
Sinai Urban Health
If you have further questions regarding the link between SSBs and obesity, please contact Rachael Institute
Dombrowski at Rachael.Dombrowski@phimc.org or (312) 909-9197.
Building a
Healthier Chicago
2. Supporters
Illinois Chapter of American
Academy of Pediatrics
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
Illinois Public Health Institute
Cook County Department of Public Health
Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium
Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago
Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
Ounce of Prevention Fund
Asian Health Coalition
Asian Human Services
Midwest Asian Health Organization
University of Illinois Chicago Health Policy Center
HealthConnect One
Childserv
Vietnamese Association of Illinois
Cambodian Association of Illinois
Organic School Project
Enlace Chicago
Corporate Accountability International
Howard Area Community Center
Sinai Urban Health Institute
Building a Healthier Chicago
Greater Faith Baptist Church
Hanul Family Alliance