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Montreal, November 12, 2009 – "The consumption of sugary drinks is constantly increasing, due in part to over-zealous marketing and the offering of new high-sugar drinks. With Type 2 diabetes making its appearance amongst youth, as an effect of the obesity epidemic on the rise, addressing the impact of these drinks on health is critical", announces Suzie Pellerin, Director of the Weight Coalition, in light of International Diabetes Day coming up on November 14th.

Ms. Pellerin quotes worrying statistics regarding the consumption of sugary drinks. For example, the consumption of soft drinks increased by 61% among adults and over 100% among children and adolescents between 1977 and 1997. This situation is cause for concern, since it has been shown that each soft drink (or more) consumed per day increases the risk of obesity by 60% among children. "It is not only about soft drinks; fruit beverages, energy drinks, sugared tea and even flavoured coffees can be much sweeter than you might think," adds Ms. Pellerin.

Young people are also starting to drink soft drinks and other sugary drinks at a much younger age, rather than drinking water or milk. The increased size of drink containers and their low price are in part responsible for this increase and the excessive consumption. « 20-ounce bottles, the equivalent of a half-liter, encourage a much higher individual consumption of sugar than the needs of the average person. We must rethink our standards according to healthier behaviour," concludes the Director of the Weight Coalition.

About the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems
Created in 2006 and sponsored by the Association pour la santé publique du Québec since 2008, the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems is working toward the adoption of specific public policies with regard to weight related issues. It acts within three strategic areas (agri-food industry, sociocultural and built environment) to foster the development of environments that help in making healthy choices and preventing weight related issues. For more details: www.cqpp.qc.ca.

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Source: Amélie Desrosiers
Communications Officer, Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems
Phone: 514 598-8058, extension 233
Cell.: 514 475-7431
adesrosiers@cqpp.qc.ca