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Study concludes taxing snacks more effective at reducing obesity

Study concludes taxing snacks more effective at reducing obesity

Taxing snacks could be better at reducing obesity than simply targeting sugary drinks.

That is according to a new study which comes a year after the Government introduced a "sugar tax" on fizzy drinks.

The study - published in the British Medical Journal - found that a reduction in the consumption of high-sugar snacks has a better chance at improving people's health compared to taxing fizzy drinks.

A 20% tax on sugary snacks like cake, biscuits and chocolate could reduce a person's calorie intake by 8,900 calories over the course of a year.

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This would amount in a weight loss of 1.3kg.

Whereas a similar price increase on sugary drinks would result in an average weight loss of just 203 grams.

One in four Irish adults are obese, while one in four children overweight.

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