Enter
JORGEBARRIOS/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS (PAP SODA); STOCK.XCHNG (DOOGH)
U.S. Leads
the World
in Poor Soda
Drinking
Habits
New York City’s ban on giant
sodas was struck down by a
judge last month, but Mayor
Michael Bloomberg vowed to
appeal the ruling. The obesity rate
among adults in New York City
stands at about 24 percent — up
six points in the past decade,
but lower than the national
average of about 34 percent.
Meanwhile, the city’s Type 2
diabetes rate outpaces the
nation’s, according to city data.
A 16-ounce Coke — the
largest size allowed under
Bloomberg’s proposal — packs
56 grams of sugar, nearly as
much as two Snickers bars.
On average, each American buys
180 liters of soda a year. We
also spend about $245 billion
each year treating diabetes.
Of course, many factors can
contribute to diabetes and other
vices may plague countries where
soda isn’t a multibillion-dollar
industry. But our movie-theater
Coke troughs probably aren’t
helping anyone stay healthy.
Scan the bubbles to the right
for a visualization of how the U.S.
stacks up against other
nations. — Katy Hall
DATA
HUFFINGTON
04.07.13
PER CAPITA YEARLY SODA
TYPE II
PURCHASES (LITERS) DIABETES RATE
U.S.
Mexico
Guatemala
Thailand
Norway
Brazil
Peru
Russia
Finland
South Africa
Ireland
Chile
China
Japan
Denmark
Iran
Turkey
Sweden
South Korea
Cameroon
U.K.
Saudi Arabia
France
Italy
Greece
Ukraine
India
Pakistan
Canada
Australia
Netherlands
Germany
Spain
Israel
Czech Rep.
Indonesia
New Zealand
TAP ICONS FOR
ADDIONAL INFO
OBESITY RATE
AGE 15 AND OVER