The Finance Minister’s decision to cancel the tax on sugary drinks is contrary to the reality on the ground and will harm the health of the entire public, ultra-Orthodox and non-Orthodox: studies prove beyond any doubt that excess sugar consumption – from poor nutrition in general and from sugary drinks in particular – is a major factor in the obesity epidemic and the accompanying morbidity, and it has an economic cost Heavy both in terms of the health system and in terms of the patients, including damage to the quality of life and work productivity.
The Minister of Finance’s decision to cancel the tax on sugary drinks will harm the health of the entire public, ultra-Orthodox and non-Orthodox: studies prove that excess sugar consumption is a major factor in the obesity epidemic and the associated morbidity
According to the Taub Center’s state of the country report, the rate of overweight people in Israel among the adult population is approaching 65%, and the rate of those suffering from obesity – which contributes to chronic illness, disability and shortened life expectancy – is about 25%.
The high rates of obesity among children and teenagers place Israel at the top of the countries whose residents suffer from overweight and obesity, and they pay a heavy price for this: obese students do less well in school, are more likely to be absent, less satisfied with life and are exposed to threats, intimidation and abuse approximately three times Their authors are not overweight.
People with at least one chronic disease that originates from obesity work at rates that are about 8% lower than the rest of the population, and 3.4% of them are more absent from work.
According to OECD estimates, Between 2020 and 2050, the countries of the organization are expected to spend an average of 8.4% of their health budgets on treating diseases related to obesity. In total, it is 321 billion dollars, which is about 210 dollars per person per year. 70% of all these expenses will be on diabetes treatments.
The high rates of obesity among children and teenagers place Israel at the top of the countries whose residents suffer from overweight and obesity, and they pay a heavy price for it
The Nutrition Division of the Ministry of Health found that the consumption of harmful foods among families in the ultra-Orthodox community is considerably higher than their consumption in the general public. For example, 78% of ultra-Orthodox households buy sweet pastries compared to 60% of the general public, and 89% of ultra-Orthodox families buy sweet snacks compared to 74% of the general public. However, the most striking gap is in the drinking habits of the ultra-Orthodox: this public leads in purchasing sweet drinks – 79% compared to 51% in the general public.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the consumption of sugary drinks, sweets and snacks increases the risk of many medical conditions, including diabetes. Indeed, the data from the National Diabetes Registry show that among the ultra-orthodox population, the rates of diabetes are significantly higher compared to the general Jewish population.
According to the data, the greatest risk is between the ages of 25-34: the chance of an ultra-Orthodox youth at these ages to get diabetes is 1.5 times higher than a non-Orthodox Jewish youth of the same age.
The fight against obesity is a complex task that requires a broad vision. Today it is clear that surgeries and drugs are not enough to solve the problem, and explanation as an exclusive solution is not very helpful either. One of the tools recommended by nutrition and public health experts in Israel and around the world to reduce the rates of obesity and diabetes for their many consequences (heart disease, stroke, fatty liver disease and various types of cancer) is taxation.
The move to tax sugary drinks, which began during Netanyahu’s previous term as Prime Minister and while Litzman was Minister of Health, was led out of a growing concern for public health and the resilience of the population in Israel.
According to the data, the greatest risk is between the ages of 25-34: the chance of an ultra-Orthodox youth at these ages to get diabetes is 1.5 times higher than a non-Orthodox Jewish youth of the same age
International studies show that taxing sugary drinks has led to a reduction in their consumption among populations of low socio-economic status and a benefit in health and economic well-being precisely in these populations. It is also important to remember that there are simple, cheap and accessible alternatives to drinking sugary drinks that are not harmful to health, such as drinking water and making them accessible in the public space as well.
We must fight the morbidity and mortality that are ultimately caused by unhealthy food, and first and foremost as the data show – by sugary drinks. Canceling the move that has already been initiated and the results of which have begun to affect and even permeate, will set us back – and will hurt the weak first of all. Instead of canceling the tax, it should be accompanied by additional measures such as the discounting of the healthy food basket and targeted and adapted information for different populations.