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Community Corner

County Launches Sugary Beverage Awareness Campaign

The goal of the program is to educate residents about the dangers of sugar-laden drinks

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s RENEW LA County program launched an awareness campaign targeting sugary beverages.

“If we’re serious about doing something about the disturbing obesity trend, we have to start with the biggest culprits,” said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, director and health officer of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “There is a tremendous lack of awareness about the amount of sugar in these drinks. Our goal is to empower all county residents – especially parents and caregivers – so they can make informed decisions about their drink choices for themselves and their families.”

The campaign will use online videos, school outreach, transit advertisements, targeted Facebook ads, and more to get their message out: that sugar-loaded beverages like soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks are making a direct impact on obesity, especially in children. 

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Diamond Bar is part of the San Gabriel Service Planning Area, which has a childhood obesity rate of 20.9 percent. According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, 39.3 percent of children and 37 percent of adults in the area drink at least one soda or sweetened beverage a day. In Diamond Bar, 14.8 percent of adults and 13.9 percent of children in the city of Diamond Bar are obese, ranking them 24th and 23rd in the county.

Instead of reaching for a soda, the campaign urges residents to swap it out for water. They also suggest limiting the amount of coffee and teas with sugar, as well as reducing the consumption of sports drinks during exercise. Alternatives include water, sparkling water, 100 percent fruit juice diluted with water, low fat or fat free milk, and unsweetened tea. 

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More information: 

*Obesity rates have increased along with consumption of sugar-loaded drinks – which has doubled over the past 30 years. 

*Sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet, and the health consequences related to excessive consumption may include obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. 

*In Los Angeles County, 51.2 percent of Latinos and 48 percent of African-Americans drink at least one soda or sweetened drink each day.

For additional information, visit ChooseHealthLA.com.

 

 

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