WHO urges taxes on sugary drinks

The World Health Organization on Tuesday recommended that countries use tax policy to increase the price of sugary drinks like sodas, sport drinks and even 100 percent fruit juices as a way to fight obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. WHO, in a statement timed for World Obesity Day, said that the prevalence of obesity worldwide more than doubled between 1980 and 2014, when nearly 40 percent of people globally were overweight. WHO also cited “strong evidence” that subsidies to reduce prices for fresh fruits and vegetables can help improve diets.