Could adding a stiff tax on sugar beverages reduce the risk of T2D and obesity in India? A study published in PLoS Medicine finds this may be an effective way to cut the fat.

For the people in India at risk of diabetes and obesity, a 20% tax will be imposed on all sugar-sweetened beverages. It is the hope of officials that this will help mitigate the rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes rates.

It was estimated that this tax could potentially overt over 11 million cases of T2D over the next decade. The savings will improve health and lower health care costs among people of India

Lead investigators of the study are aware of the fact that planning is key but execution is the way to make a difference.“Future research should replicate the findings observed here in other rapidly developing middle-income countries where SSB consumption is increasing at a rapid rate.”

Similar to Bloomberg’s war on super-sized sugary beverages, India may be on to something for the greater good. We’ll take it day by day, one sip at a time.

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