New York City aims to improve public health with campaign against soda

New York City has unveiled a new ad campaign encouraging people to put down sodas, sugary juices and sports drinks, store-made coffee drinks, and other beverages laden with sugar and high fructose corn syrup in an effort to educate New Yorkers on calorie consumption.

The campaign, which features a graphic image of human fat being poured from a plastic soda bottle, follows a previous a NYC campaign which aimed to reduce obesity in the city by requiring restaurants by law to post the calorie counts of it's food. Posters displayed in New York subway cars informed New Yorkers that "2,000 calories a day is all most adults should eat."

New York and several other states are leading the way toward reducing the obesity epidemic in the United States with bold measures that seem to be working. It is estimated that in the United States we may be spending as much as $147 billion per year treating obesity related health issues.

Lives and dollars can be saved by eliminating the obesity epidemic. We can all benefit by taking the advice of New York's campaign: pick up a glass of water instead of a sugary drink.

Click here for more information on NYC health campaigns.

For a comprehensive list of resources about food in America check out this list on Michael Pollan's web site.

Image via New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.