In an ever growing world, doctors are trying to make sure your belt size doesn’t grow with it. Although it may be convenient, springing for a quick snack or a sugary drink from a nearby vending machine might be worse than you think.
Linda Stobbo, is the program manager for chronic disease prevention at the MLHU. She talks about a survey the health unit did in London.
“What we found was that if we were to decrease or remove beverage vending machines, that the users would be more likely to drink and choose water, and their overall consumption of sugary drinks would decrease.”
But why is sugar in drinks so bad for you? Dr. Christopher Mackie, medical officer of health for the MLHU explains.
“It damages your body throughout your bloodstream. If there’s excess sugar in your body, it literally damages your tissues. Overtime, when someone has a sugar disease like diabetes, it can cause all sorts of problems.”
If there are so many health concerns in relation to sugar in vending machines, then an easy solution would be to remove said vending machines, right? Well when the proposition was discussed at a council meeting, the solution didn’t seem so simple.
Instead, Councillor Phil Squire saw the suggestions more as a stepping stone.
“It was a really good opportunity to sit down with the beverage industry, and I think it was a great opportunity to start the process of getting people to drink alternatives to high sugar drinks.”
While the sought after sugary drink vending machines will remain untouched in London for now, a motion did get passed to remove the bulk candy machines from city facilities. However Squire isn’t sure this was the right decision, saying people should have the right to choose whether or not they eat the sugary treat.
Nothing has been completely confirmed yet, but it is predicted the city will lose almost 50 thousand dollars in revenue with candy machines gone. However some say it’s a small price to pay, to encourage a sweeter life.
