The Soda Ban
October 5, 2012
On Sept. 13, at New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s urging, New York City’s Board of Health approved what’s believed to be a first-of-its-kind ban on the sale of supersized sugary beverages. In six months, if there’s no lawsuit filed to block it, containers of Coke, Pepsi and sugar-laden flavored drinks larger than 16 ounces will be outlawed at restaurants, movie theaters, food carts and sports arenas. Business violators would be subject to a $200 fine.
This ban doesn’t stop someone from buying two 16-ounce cups or bottles of soda. Nor does it apply to convenience stores or grocery stores. And, of course, New Yorkers are free to drink however much they want at home.
It is said that at worst, the new soda ban will inconvenience some hard-core soda drinkers. However, my contention is whether or not this is the right way to approach the war on obesity? Critics contend that this ban is an assault on our freedom to choose. I have mixed feelings on the subject. Does the ban on large beverages and the previous Bloomberg-inspired ban on trans fats lead to a ban on the number of hamburgers one can purchase at the same time?
Last week, the American Dental Association (ADA) gave a thumbs-up to Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative. ADA president, Dr. William Calnon said, “Health professionals, including dentists, have long stressed the importance of a healthy diet; yet obesity and lack of exercise — associated with chronic diseases and conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and hypertension remain high.”
On the ban itself Dr. Calnon said, “When it comes to a ban related to a particular food or beverage, is a stick rather than a carrot approach the best way to get people to adopt healthier diets? Perhaps not, but the attention alone that the mayor’s ban has generated on this issue is certainly a huge step in the right direction.” Dr. Calnon seems to believe that the attention to the subject is worth more than methodology. Most of us are aware that super-sizing anything is probably not in the best interest of our health. If we ban certain food products to fight obesity, should we make exercise mandatory?
As with any lifestyle choice, the lessons need to start early in the home. What we choose to buy in the grocery store to provide for our families on a consistent basis is the backbone of the impressions our children get, which will help them make better choices on their own. Our children need to grow-up in an environment where we respect what we put in our own bodies and take care of ourselves with exercise. It seems to me that banning or limiting what can be purchased is an attempt to make up for the lack of discipline in the home. But, will that work?
Is the limitation of allowing smoking in public places the reason for a decrease in smoking? Smoking in public places puts others at risk and is the main reason, but smoking in general has decreased because of the increased awareness of health risks. Does the ability to buy a 32-ounce soda have a direct effect on anyone surrounding the person buying it?
I’m all for increased awareness of what science has shown is good or not good for us. Armed with that information, we have the personal responsibility to make choices that we feel are right for us as individuals.
Doctors And Dentists Need To Work Together
April 10, 2011
Dentists play a key role in screening patients for many disorders relative to nutrition and in providing appropriate referrals into the health care system. Although the importance of integrating diet and nutrition guidance into dental care has been advocated for decades by educators, it continues to be ignored except by a handful of prevention-oriented practitioners.
Many of the world’s most significant health problems are linked to poor dietary practices, including over-nutrition and under-nutrition. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in health, and dental professionals have the opportunity to be a critical link between discovery and wellness.
There is a great deal of evidence linking oral infections, including periodontal disease, nutrition and immunological response. We have clear evidence linking oral disease with adverse pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. In addition, obesity, which is an epidemic facing our country, is significantly affecting the incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and overall lifespan. We know there are direct connections between these problems and oral disease. What is the role of the dentist? Should the dentist just be a tooth fixer?
As the body of data linking systemic health conditions and oral infection grows, the expanding understanding of the gene-nutrient reaction may result in more profound discoveries. As of now, many dentists fail to fully appreciate that the scientific bridge between oral disease and systemic health is often mediated by diet and nutrition.
The beneficiary of this profound evidence should be you, the dental patient. It should not only be the responsibility of the physician or specialized nutritionist to incorporate this information into practice. The dentist should be playing a key role.
For the most part, the dentist is the only one who examines the mouth. It used to be that the dentist only looked at the teeth and only fixed problems if the arose. By now, most dentists screen for periodontal, or gum, problems as well as oral cancer. The trend is to address these problems earlier than ever before.
Patients will often say to me, “I’ve been going to the dentist all my life. Why have you or any other dentist never said anything about that before?” I always use the analogy of cholesterol. It used to be that 250 was the number to be at or under. As evidence grew that cholesterol plays a more significant role than thought before, that number quickly dropped below 200. People tend to have ingrained in their head that the dentist just looks at the teeth and treatment should be the same as 25 years ago.
As science continues and evidence grows, things change. It is the responsibility of all health care providers to work towards a more integrated health care system.
