Fighting against the City Council and business owners across New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has sought allies in his crusade to ban sugary drinks. This week, the mayor found a heavyweight he thinks will help him go 12 rounds.
Weight Watchers announced their support Tuesday for Bloomberg’s plan to limit the size of sugary drinks to 16 ounces or less in New York City.
The Mayor made the announcement at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, a "Make NYC Your Gym" location.
Weight loss experts also threw their support behind the proposal, including the creator of the Best Life Diet, the creator of the South Beach Diet, the CEO of Jenny Craig, the creator of the Dukan Diet and the creator of Picture Perfect Weight Loss.
“It’s time to face the facts: obesity is one of America’s most deadly problems, and sugary beverages are a leading cause of it,” Bloomberg said. “As the size of sugary drinks has grown, so have our waistlines – and so have diabetes and heart disease.
Bloomberg added that all of the weight-loss experts backing his ban say that portion control is a huge part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“There has been a lot of discussion about obesity, but little action, which is why we at Weight Watchers support what this administration is doing to help New Yorkers live healthier,” said David Burwick, President of Weight Watchers North America.
The sugary drink ban will be voted on September 13 by the New York City Board of Health.
So far, groups like New Yorkers for Beverage Choices expect the ban to pass,
The proposal has drawn volumes of criticism, most of it lobbed at the mayor for overreaching the acceptable scope of city government. and calling Bloomberg a tyrant.
