Opinion
Op-Ed: OCCUR Gives the East Bay the Scoop on Sugary Drinks
By Denise Deluca, OCCUR, Program Manager
At OCCUR we believe that all individuals should have the opportunity to live healthy lives regardless of their race, income, zip code or level of education, and that having information and tools to living a healthy life is essential.
For the people we serve, low-income residents and youth in the East Bay, often the truth about the harms of sugary drinks and healthy alternatives is drowned out by the predatory marketing of the beverage industry.
Did you know that African American youth see 3 times as many ads for sugary drinks as their white peers? With 1-2 sugary drinks a day linked to type 2 diabetes, it’s no wonder that unless we change course, half of all African American and Latino children born in 2000 will get type 2 diabetes in their lifetimes.
Furthermore, medical authorities have established that sugar-sweetened beverages are the number one source of added sugars in the American diet contributing to obesity, hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
The data reveals a perfect storm for the risk of chronic disease. Beverage companies target youth and communities of color. Consumption of sugary drinks has increased 500 percent in the past 50 years and now is the single largest category of caloric intake in children, surpassing milk a decade ago.
And yet, studies show that cutting back on sugary drinks helps control weight, and more importantly, reduces your risks or even reverses devastating diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
This fall, OCCUR will join other local community organizations in combating the pervasive health threats linked to sugary drinks that are impacting our Oakland community. The program will train a cadre of residents to share facts and strategies for low-income individuals living in the East Bay Area to make healthier nutritional choices and whenever possible select water as the beverage of choice.
OCCUR will conduct the trainings in locations where we have supported constituents with safety net programming for over five decades. Students from the David E. Glover Education and Technology Center, a Program of OCCUR that trains youth in tech skills, will explore creative solutions to address this public health challenge in their East Oakland community.
It’s time to work together and get loud to combat the unhealthy forces that undermine our communities’ health and prosperity. Join us and change the future.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 15 – 21, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 15 – 21, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 8 – 14, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 8 – 14, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 1 – 7, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 1 – 7, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
-
City Government2 weeks ago
Court Throws Out Law That Allowed Californians to Build Duplexes, Triplexes and RDUs on Their Properties
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
-
Community4 weeks ago
Oakland WNBA Player to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame
-
Community4 weeks ago
Richmond Nonprofit Helps Ex-Felons Get Back on Their Feet
-
Community4 weeks ago
RPAL to Rename Technology Center for Retired Police Captain Arthur Lee Johnson
-
Alameda County2 weeks ago
An Oakland Homeless Shelter Is Showing How a Housing and Healthcare First Approach Can Work: Part 1
-
Business4 weeks ago
Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data
-
Bay Area4 weeks ago
MAYOR BREED ANNOUNCES $53 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR SAN FRANCISCO’S HOMELESS PROGRAMS