Big sugary drinks took a hit last week in North AmericaB次元官网网址檚 battle against obesity.

New York CityB次元官网网址檚 board of health passed a rule banning sales of sodas larger than 473 millilitres at restaurants, concession stands and other eateries B次元官网网址� but customers with a sweet tooth in the Capital Region could be the next to notice a menu change.

Never one to be left out of the discussion on health regulations, Vancouver Island Health AuthorityB次元官网网址檚 chief medical health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick B次元官网网址� an outspoken leader in the successful campaigns to ban public smoking, idling vehicles and teens using tanning beds within the CRD B次元官网网址� is considering what local action could be taken to regulate consumption of high-calorie drinks.

B次元官网网址淭his is a concern,B次元官网网址� Stanwick said. B次元官网网址淲e do know the contribution of a sugary diet to overall obesity rates and a bunch of other things, including diabetes.B次元官网网址�

Rather than lobbying for a cap on portion sizes, a better approach, Stanwick said, might involve regulating amounts of sugar within products, similar to the provinceB次元官网网址檚 move to restrict trans fats in 2009.

Emblazoning packaging with a symbol indicating the amount of sugar in sweetened drink is one option VIHAB次元官网网址檚 medical health officers have considered and may bring forward in the future, he said. A single 473 ml drink (slightly more than a regular can of pop at 355 ml) may contain as many as 16 teaspoons of sugar.

Quoting the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Stanwick points to the tripling of obesity rates in 12-to 17-year-olds since 1980.

B次元官网网址淐learly we have our work cut out for us,B次元官网网址� Stanwick said. B次元官网网址淭his is an issue that's on the radar of every medical health officer in the province.B次元官网网址�

nnorth@saanichnews.com