Impact of sugar-sweetened beverages tax on obesity and obesity-related health conditions: evidence from Washington State's soft drink syrup tax.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented in various regions as a public health strategy to reduce obesity and associated chronic diseases. While previous research has examined the effectiveness of these taxes, findings remain mixed regarding their impact on long-term health outcomes. This study assesses the effect of Washington State's 2009 soft drink syrup tax on obesity prevalence and related health conditions. This study mitigates selection bias and cross-border purchasing effects, providing a clear picture of the policy's effectiveness.

Methods

We employ the Synthetic Control Method (SCM) to estimate the causal impact of the syrup tax on obesity rates and obesity-related diseases using 1996-2021 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillan

SUBMITTER: Chung SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12577298 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature