Nutrition & Wellness – Biology 50

Pouring on the Pounds – NYC Public Health Ad

September 5, 2009

The New York City Public Health Department has launched an innovative, visual campaign to help convince New Yorkers to limit the amount of calories they are consuming from sodas and other sugary beverages by asking them of they are “Pouring on the Pounds.”

You can see the images being used in the campaign below:

The Facts
According to Cathy Nonas in the related blog about the campaign:

The reality is Americans consume 200 to 300 more calories each day than we did 30 years ago. Of these extra calories, nearly half come from sugar-sweetened drinks with zero health benefits.

The number of calories and sugar in different beverages can be quite a bit.

• One 20 oz. bottle of soda = 250 calories with 16 ½ teaspoons of sugar.
• One 20 oz. bottle of lemon-flavored iced tea = 210 calories with 14 ½ teaspoons of sugar.
• One 20 oz Sports Drink = 120 calories with 8 ½ teaspoons of sugar.

A table with the different number of calories and sugar content in different beverages is available on the New York Health Department.

As part of the campaign the Health Department is encouraging people to not drink themselves fat, to cut back on soda and other sugary beverages and go with water, seltzer or low-fat milk instead.

The Campaign
The public-awareness campaign, which includes posters in the subway system and a Health Bulletin, will run for three months.

Do you think that we should do something like this in California to discourage Californians from consuming too many empty beverage calories and fat?

More Information:
Press Release. August 31, 2009. New Campaign Asks New Yorkers if They’re “Pouring On the Pounds.” New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Are Your Pouring on the Pounds? Posters. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Three Versions (Soda, Sports Drinks and Tea) (PDF File)

Health Bulletin. 2009. Are You Pouring on the Pounds? Vol 8, No. 6. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (PDF File)

Entry Filed under: Children, Health News, Media and Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition News, Weight Management. Tags: Empty Calorie Beverages, Obesity Campaign, Pouring on the Pounds, Preventing Obesity, Sodas, Sports Drinks, Sugar Drinks.