Should our right to bear soda pop
be taken away?
New York City’s health board held
a public hearing this past Tuesday regarding Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed soda
pop regulation.
Proponents say frequent soft
drink consumption directly relates to the rise in childhood obesity and
diabetes; we would add that regularly drinking sweet beverages seriously contributes
to dental disease.
Critics complain that government officials
shouldn’t have such excessive control over what people consume. What next will
come to the table?
No matter what side of this
debate you find yourself, isn’t it great that we’re able to have such
discussions?
Ignoring problems will not make
them go away. We certainly have trouble pretending like dental disease doesn’t
exist. We find that open, honest dialogue is really the best way to handle preventable
disease.
These are some of the things we
consider when we counsel with parents and patients:
- What we eat and drink is strongly tied to our culture and environment.
- Dietary practices have a very large influence on dental disease.
- Frequent simple carbohydrate exposure, such as sweet beverages, puts kids at very high risk for cavities (not to mention other serious medical problems).
- Inducing guilt and coercing kids doesn’t work well.
- Positive reinforcement, along with taking small steps toward healthier habits can really pay off in the long run.
No, limiting a soda pop container
to 16 ounces at our favorite restaurant won’t mean that we’ll be free of
obesity, diabetes and cavities. It just puts a crimp in our life and liberty.
But think of what a clear message such a regulation can send to our young
people, who are just trying to figure out what’s good and bad for them: “Be
careful what and how much you consume. You are what you eat (and drink)!”
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