Majority Leader works to curb obesity, diabetes epidemic
Legislation aims at reducing rampant consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages

SACRAMENTO -- Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) legislation today aimed at curbing the rampant consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages – considered one of the leading causes of obesity and a major contributor to diabetes – and encouraging consumers to steer toward healthier alternatives.

Florez was joined by representatives from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy – sponsors of Senate Bill 1210, the California Medical Association and the Dental Health Foundation in introducing the bill, which will also support obesity prevention programs in California schools.

More than 60 percent of Americans are now considered overweight or obese, with the childhood obesity rate having tripled since 1980.  The bill’s sponsors attribute much of the surge in obesity rates to Americans’ increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Over the past 30 years, Americans have increased their daily calorie intake by nearly 300 calories, with almost half of that coming from sugar-sweetened beverages.  Each 20-ounce soda, in addition to those added calories, contains three times the amount of sugar considered “healthy” for an adult to consume in an entire day. 

Rates of diabetes have followed suit, with one in 13 people statewide now afflicted with the disease.  In the Central Valley, which Florez represents, the Fresno Bee reports that nineteen people die each week from diabetes.

“We have a health epidemic in California, and particularly the Central Valley, and the health of our future generations demands we address it,” Florez said.  “Diabetes, obesity and heart disease should not be the legacy we leave for our children and theirs.” 

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