(a) A desktop review on studies related to the effect of sugar on obesity and increasing the severity of NCDs was conducted. In 2016, 31% of adult males, 67% of adult females, and 13% of children under five years old were either overweight or obese.
(b) Further studies conducted in South Africa post implementation of the sugar tax, highlighted a decline in the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages by about 29% in the purchase of SSB and 51% in the incidence of persons adding sugar to beverages. The studies were conducted by Wottesley et al, 2020; Essman et al, 2022; Hofman et al, 2021; and Boachie, Thsehla and Hofman 2022. To access these research articles, click the link HPL implications articles.
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