A sugar tax is a tax on sugary drinks, also called a Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax (SSBT). Public health advocates say an SSBT in Australia and New Zealand could help reduce consumption of SSBs and thereby reduce obesity and other associated diseases.
The data in this report was obtained from an online survey of a nationally representative sample of 3000 consumers and food decision-makers aged over 18 years conducted in December 2015.
Our consumption of added sugars has been widely debated. Now, hot on the heels of the Lei et al (2016) paper from Sydney University we reported on last month, the ABS has released a secondary analysis 'Australian Health Survey: Consumption of Added Sugars' using the same methodology (modified slightly) and finds similar results.
Dyslipidemia refers to abnormal levels of lipids in the blood: typically, elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated triglycerides (TG) and/or low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). There is debate as to whether high TG themselves contribute to cardiovascular risk, or whether they are just a marker of risk because high triglycerides are linked to low HDL-C, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Whether high TG are a participant in- or just a spectator of - increased cardiovascular risk remains unclear.
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is retiring its Tick Program after 26 years (the New Zealand Heart Foundation Tick Program is continuing).
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