Hated sugar tax worked for girls... but NOT boys, Cambridge University ... trends now
The sugary drinks tax may have prevented more than 5,000 cases of obesity every year among girls in their final year of primary school, a study suggests.
But it didn't appear to make any difference to boys of the same age.
In April 2018, to protect children from excessive sugar consumption and tackle childhood obesity, the UK governments introduced a two-tier sugar tax on soft drinks.
The tax was targeted at manufacturers to incentivise them to reduce the sugar content and encourage young people away from the 'bathtub of sugary drinks' they consume every year.
In April 2018, to protect children from excessive sugar consumption and tackle childhood obesity, the UK governments introduced a two-tier sugar tax on soft drinks
Now experts have found the move was followed by a drop in the number of cases of obesity among girls aged 10 and 11, but not their male counterparts.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge tracked changes in the levels of obesity in children in England in reception year and year six between 2014 and 2020.
Taking account of previous trends, they compared changes in levels of obesity 19 months after the sugar tax came into effect.
The team found that the introduction of the tax was associated with an eight per cent relative reduction in obesity levels in year six girls, equivalent to preventing 5,234 cases of obesity per year in this group alone.
Reductions were greatest in girls whose schools were in deprived areas, where children are known to consume the largest
