Sugary drinks are a big factor in obesity rates, but I think it's wonderful that this bit of good-intention fascism is stopped, at least temporarily.

Where would America be without fat people? It's just part of our identity. We're just like everyone else without our fat people. Don't let them go away.

People should not need the government to tell them that 70 grams of sugar in a 20oz soda is not good for them. If they drink it, its their own choice and they should live with the consequences.

I'm in Europe now and its remarkable how skinny people are here (overall). Its not that eating or drinking habits are all that different, but what's allowed in those foods and drinks. There are hardly any preservatives over here in the UK, portion control is much better (not like the two meals on one plate you get at Olive Garden), and just in general its better quality, healthier food.

The consumer isn't demanding it over in the US, but its what is best for the general welfare. I have to say I was disappointed to see it blocked. Taxpayer money goes into treating all of these obese people for the health issues they have, so as taxpayers we should have a say in what they are allowed to eat. More stringent measures on what goes into our food and how much we eat will pay dividends to society for decades into the future. We can't trust people to demand it on their own.

Where does it end goldfinger? Are we going to ban red meat as well?

At some point one must allow people to make their own decisions. Banning it is not the answer. Educating people on how detrimental that amount of sugar is to their health is a much better option. That way, people who choose to continue to drink sugar heavy beverages are doing so in an educated way. Some people value the enjoyment of a soda more than the negative health consequences.

Tom, for someone like me that can't afford anything more than McDonald's and Wendy's, it's not at all my choice. The food at home comes from Target or Costco - no better - so what choice do I really have? You could say I should get better quality food or eat different things, but I have no say over it. I'm fortunate to be able to eat as healthy as I do, and to equate to the food I ate in Germany and Israel, I'd be considered a pig and a slob there. The food there has so much quality and isn't all about taste like it is here.

Frankly, until the consumers are put in place by laws, this isn't about to stop, and you'll have to move into the EU to eat healthily. Banning large sodas is not a crime against humanity; it's a favor, they should have taken it.

What do you mean that you can't afford anything more than McDonald's or Wendy's? A bag of frozen veggies is not expensive... Neither is water...

"Frankly, until the consumers are put in place by laws, this isn't about to stop, and you'll have to move into the EU to eat healthily"

I know plenty of people who eat healthily in the U.S. I find this comment outrageous.

"I know plenty of people who eat healthily in the U.S."

The problem is that it takes effort. It takes someone "going on a diet" to lose weight ... no, you don't go on a diet. You live by a single diet. It's not something that you go on; it's not something that ends. Eating healthy is way too difficult that it becomes absurd.

@bo

I don't care how poor you are. There is no excuse for eating fast food. For the same price, you can get a larger, healthier meal if you're willing to buy raw ingredients and prepare it yourself.

Yeah, I worded that terribly, and it's not a great point anyway. Case in point, you get how bad it is. You get how large sodas and free refills are putting shit into people's blood that shouldn't be there.

I don't find eating healthy to be difficult. Buy fish. Put in oven. Big green beans or broccoli. Steam. Drink milk or water. Tada! Healthy meal made.

Eating healthy is not difficult at all, it's just not the non-thinking default. I tend to agree that there's too much processed junk in our food, but that doesn't mean affordable alternatives don't exist. Obesity is just as much a result of people's conscious decisions to keep stuffing themselves with crap as it is of our over-industrialized food system.

"Obesity is just as much a result of people's conscious decisions to keep stuffing themselves with crap as it is of our over-industrialized food system."

So fix both... with laws...

@Tom/abge... I'm not talking about making meals. If I understand correctly, the law isn't either. Yes, you can eat healthily if you make meals, but not if you buy premade food or go out to eat at many places.

Of course. But humans are supposed to make their own food, not buy it freeze-dried in a box.

If you want to eat healthy, don't go out to fastfood or Olive Garden. Seems pretty simple, no?

And, honestly, cooking your own food is often faster than going out. I can cook many good meals in about 1/2 hour. That's a lot quicker than a restaurant and only slightly longer than it would take me to drive to the nearest fast food joint.

I'll support to the death the decisions of fatties to gulp down Cinnabon after Cinnabon if they want to. It's not the role of government to nanny and nag people into healthier lifestyles. Now, laws to make food quality better, that's fine. As long as they're sane, of course. And there's the hidden benefit that you rarely see an old obese person. Social Security, Medicare, and public pensions need all the breaks they can get.

My point is, that this law was put into place before a limit or ban on cigarettes, another big problem worldwide. Yes, this law has good intentions, but simply causes many problems for businesses and consumers. Meanwhile, there are other problems like nicotine addiction associated with cigarettes and cigars, but you don't see that being tackled by the mayor. Not to mention other health hazards widely available in our foods today. Size of something is not an issue unless it has something in it that is harmful.

The US food system is fucking broken

the "the consumer is demanding it" argument is ridiculous

http://nyti.ms/ZEF5Av

it absolutely does represent an "imminent public health threat" such as a disease. obesity IS a disease

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db82.pdf

" Taxpayer money goes into treating all of these obese people for the health issues they have"

Bullshit. I pay my insurance premiums. Taxpayer dollars don't go to shit in healthcare except for welfare Don't give me retirement social security line as it was supposed to be an investment in your future. The people collecting social security at retirement contributed to the system so it was an investment in their retirement. The fact our government fucked it up and raided the coffers doesn't mean these people didn't pay for their retirement.

No, most health issues with obesity are paid for by insurance companies who make record fucking profits every year raping and cheating their members by denying claims as often as they can and getting away with a lot of it because no one fucking pays attention.

" nicotine addiction associated with cigarettes and cigars"

Cigarettes yes, but cigars, no. Cigars do not have added nicotine and aren't generally inhaled which is why the nicotine issues are greatly reduced and rarely addictive. You don't see chain cigar smokers.

Yet cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases that have been scientifically proven to have a direct correlation with things in food beyond amount of sugar, like mysterious chemicals, or better yet, tobacco in cigarettes are still ignored. if obesity is a disease, I have given 3 from one source. cigarettes. did I also mention that heart attacks were the #1 cause of death in the us? while not all heart attacks are caused by smoking, many are. we still have no restrictions on smoking tobacco besides age, which is used to restrict sex and voting in the exact same manner.

thank you draug, I did not know that about cigars. either way, my point has been made. we are focusing on limiting a drink that may be enjoyed by some without facing serious health risks, while cigarettes still roam around causing harm to everyone who tries them.

All things in moderation. Cigarettes don't need to be banned, but their manufacture needs to be controlled by the FDA so additives like extra nicotine (and addictive chemical that constricts circulatory flow) and other poisons and carcinogens are eliminated. Tobacco in its pure form is less addictive than alcohol and less likely to cause long term health problems. It isn't the tobacco, but the shit cigarette companies (aka big tobacco) add to their product. Why do you think cigarettes all have filters yet cigars don't and pipe filters are usually just to prevent pieces of tobacco and the liquid that builds up in the bottom of the bowl from making their way into the pipe smoker's mouth.

"Taxpayer money goes into treating all of these obese people for the health issues they have, so as taxpayers we should have a say in what they are allowed to eat. "

I'm glad you said this. I occasionally run into people who don't believe me that nationalized healthcare would be used as a justification for running your life at a shocking level, so it' suseful to be able to provide examples of people actually saying it.

" it absolutely does represent an "imminent public health threat" such as a disease. obesity IS a disease"

And you think people should be forced to treat it? Is that your attitude toward every disease?

If you want to ban people on public healthcare from drinking soda, be my guest. But I pay my own insurance premiums and they make plenty of profit. So my choices do *not* cost taxpayers a fucking dime.