About The Study: The results of this study suggest that the sweetened beverage tax in Seattle may be associated with a small but reasonable reduction in body mass index (BMI) among children living in Seattle compared with children living in nearby nontaxed areas who were receiving care within the same health care systems. Taken together with existing studies in the U.S., these results suggest that sweetened beverage taxes may be an effective policy for improving children’s BMI. Future research should test this association using longitudinal data in other U.S. cities with sweetened beverage taxes.
About The Study: The results of this study suggest that the sweetened beverage tax in Seattle may be associated with a small but reasonable reduction in body mass index (BMI) among children living in Seattle compared with children living in nearby nontaxed areas who were receiving care within the same health care systems. Taken together with existing studies in the U.S., these results suggest that sweetened beverage taxes may be an effective policy for improving children’s BMI. Future research should test this association using longitudinal data in other U.S. cities with sweetened beverage taxes.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Jessica C. Jones-Smith, Ph.D., email jjoness@uw.edu.
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(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.13644)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.
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Cite Scienmag News
Courtney Benton. (May 29, 2024). Sweetened beverage tax implementation and change in body mass index among children in Seattle. Scienmag. https://scienmag.com/sweetened-beverage-tax-implementation-and-change-in-body-mass-index-among-children-in-seattle/
Courtney Benton. "Sweetened beverage tax implementation and change in body mass index among children in Seattle." Scienmag, 29 May 2024, https://scienmag.com/sweetened-beverage-tax-implementation-and-change-in-body-mass-index-among-children-in-seattle/. Accessed 5 September 2026.
Courtney Benton. "Sweetened beverage tax implementation and change in body mass index among children in Seattle." Scienmag. May 29, 2024. https://scienmag.com/sweetened-beverage-tax-implementation-and-change-in-body-mass-index-among-children-in-seattle/
