Reduce the risk from sugary drinks

Overweight and obesity in Vietnam are increasing rapidly in direct proportion to the consumption of sugary drinks. Statistics show that the rate of overweight and obesity in children has doubled in the past 10 years, from 8.5% in 2010 to 19.6% in 2020, becoming a serious public health problem.

The rate of overweight and obesity is very high in urban areas (26.8%), followed by rural areas (18.3%) and mountainous areas, where economic conditions are still difficult but 6.9% of children are overweight and obese. For adults, the rate of overweight and obesity has increased from 15.6% (2015) to 19.6% (2020).

The main cause of overweight and obesity

The World Health Organization recommends that the daily intake of free sugar for both adults and children should be reduced to less than 10% of total energy intake and reduced to less than 5% (equivalent to 25g or 5-6 teaspoons) for better health.

For children aged 2-18 years, the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to less than 5 teaspoons (25 grams) per day, or less than 5% of total energy intake; children under 2 years of age should not consume any foods or beverages with added sugar.

According to statistics, total soft drink consumption in Vietnam has increased more than four times, from 1.59 billion liters (in 2009) to 6.67 billion liters (in 2023); per capita consumption has also increased rapidly, from 18.5 liters/person (in 2009) to 66.5 liters/person (in 2023).

In Vietnam, the age group from 15-45 accounts for more than 46% of the population; this is the age group that is considered to have high demand for soft drinks and is the target audience of manufacturers.

Meanwhile, a survey in Vietnam showed that 43% of adolescents (aged 11-25) drink sugary drinks an average of 2 times/week; 23.1% of adolescents surveyed drink about 2 cans (bottles) of 300-500 ml each time. Notably, the average Vietnamese person consumes 46.59g of free sugar/day, close to the maximum limit (50g/day) and nearly double the World Health Organization's recommended level of 25g/day.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert from the World Health Organization in Vietnam, added that research in 75 countries shows that a 1% increase in sugary drink consumption means nearly 5 more overweight adults per 100 people, and more than 2 more obese adults per 100 people (mainly in low- and middle-income countries).

Sugary drinks - the cause of overweight and obesity.

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in childhood is associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity at age 5. Each additional 100 ml increase in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption per day is associated with a higher body mass index and a 1.2-fold increased risk of overweight and obesity at age 6.

For each additional can of sugary drink consumed per day, the risk of obesity increased by 60% over 1.5 years of follow-up. Children who regularly drank sugary drinks had a body mass index (BMI) 2.24 times higher than children who did not drink sugary drinks.

Controlling sugary drink consumption with taxes

Concluding the working session with representatives of the Government Party Committee and central ministries and branches on the assessment of the implementation results of the Central Committee's resolutions on public health care and orientations for the coming time, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that public health care should aim at the goal of building a healthy Vietnam, where all people can live long, healthy, happy lives; human resources must have sufficient physical, mental, intellectual and moral health to achieve the goal of Vietnam becoming a developing country with an upper middle income by 2030; and becoming a developed country with a high income by 2045.

A healthy society cannot rely solely on doctors. Disease prevention awareness must start from each citizen. The basic elements of a healthy culture are: healthy eating, regular exercise, sports, periodic health check-ups; saying no to alcohol, tobacco, stimulants; taking care of mental health, living positively, loving and sharing... This is the foundation for a healthier Vietnam in the future.

To reduce the risk factors from sugary drinks, the World Health Organization recommends that countries impose excise taxes on sugary drinks.

Deputy Director of the Legal Department (Ministry of Health) Dinh Thi Thu Thuy analyzed that currently, imposing special consumption tax on sugary drinks is a trend of countries to minimize the harmful effects of this product on health. There are 104 countries and territories that have issued and implemented special consumption tax policies on sugary drinks nationwide, of which 6 countries are in Southeast Asia. The World Health Organization recommends that imposing special consumption tax on sugary drinks is an important measure because it brings three effects: Improving public health; increasing revenue for the state budget and helping to reduce health care costs for related diseases, reducing future labor productivity losses.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has agreed on the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax. The special consumption tax rate for this item can be extended and the roadmap is 8% in 2027 and 10% from 2028.

Dr. Hoang Thi My Hanh, Institute of Health Strategy and Policy (Ministry of Health) said: For taxable products, in addition to the list of soft drinks according to Vietnamese standards, it is necessary to add other commonly consumed sugary drinks according to the list and roadmap prescribed by the Government; periodically research the beverage market to identify commonly consumed products outside the list of Vietnamese standards, including nutritional products with high sugar content commonly used by children to promptly propose to add to the list of taxable objects.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giam-thieu-nguy-co-tu-do-uong-co-duong-post878274.html