In England, childhood obesity rates have risen dramatically over the past few decades, reaching 10% in the 4-5 year age group and 20% in the 10-11 year age group in 2020. This experiment results in an 8% reduction in obesity in girls aged 10-11, following the establishment in 2018 of a soft drink tax, with the largest reductions seen in girls aged 10-11. girls living in the most disadvantaged areas.
Multiple studies have demonstrated the responsibility of sugary drinks in the obesity epidemic, these drinks representing up to 1 third of the caloric intake of their regular consumers. In April 2018, the UK tax came into force to encourage soft drink manufacturers to reduce the sugar content of their products.
The study analyzed data from over 1 million children attending English primary schools. Students aged 4-5 and 10-11 were followed over 6 years, from September 2013 to November 2019. Researchers compared levels of obesity 19 months following the entry into force of the tax with predicted obesity levels if the tax had not been implemented. Possible confounding factors, including sex and level of household income, were taken into account. The analysis reveals:
- in girls aged 10 to 11, a reduction in obesity rates of 1.6 points, which is equivalent to an 8% reduction in obesity rates;
- the greatest reductions are observed among girls from the most deprived backgrounds, with an absolute reduction of 2.4 percentage points in the prevalence of obesity for the most deprived quintile;
- among boys aged 10 to 11, the analysis finds no overall change in obesity rates, regardless of the level of household deprivation.
The results therefore suggest that:
taxing sugary drinks has reduced obesity rates among girls,
10 to 11 years old. It remains to explain the lack of effect in boys (?). If other strategies are to be implemented to reduce the prevalence of obesity in children and especially in older boys, the lead of increasing the prices of products that are too sweet should be explored.
The tax has thus already prevented thousands of children, mainly girls, from developing obesity.