Berkeley's sugary soda consumption plummeted after tax, study says

Cities across the world are learning that a tax on sugary drinks can help to shift purchasing habits and reduce the risks of health problems such as diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke. As a Boulder council member explained, modifying the behavior of consumers is possible when you "tax the behavior you don’t want and use the money to encourage behavior you do."

Food is not just linked to physical well-being but also mental health as well, and some doctors are now prescribing a change in diet to address psychiatric concerns. Although not necessarily a cure-all, this approach has shown success in studies and with actual patients.

Since the 1970s, obesity rates in Brazil have been increasing proportionally with the amount of "ultra-processed" foods being consumed. Foregoing healthy, locally produced food has not only resulted in a health epidemic, but has also contributed to a deteriorating economy, strains on the environment, and decaying of culture. Brazil's new food guide and school lunch programme are both founded on the premise of taking a holistic approach to eating, going beyond calorie count to address the environmental, cultural and social elements to food consumption.

We know how to prevent diabetes - but the U.S, medical system, with its twisted priorities, doesn’t cover prevention. A new program at the YMCA aims to build structured, effective prevention measures.

Faced with an obesity epidemic, communities in Australia are making changes to become healthier and promote a healthy lifestyle. Programs have included increased education around grocery shopping with a nutritional mindset as well as increasing exercise through initiatives that encourage children to walk to school. Since making changes, individuals in the communities have attested to the effectiveness and obesity and overweight rates in some regions have notably decreased.

Joint use policies turn communal spaces—such as schools and churches—during off-hours into a place for public health programs. This can be especially impactful in communities were the ability to exercise outside can be curtailed by lack of green space, environmental issues, or public safety concerns.

By requiring schools to buy 30 percent of products from smallholder farms, Brazil provides fresher food to students and economic benefits to otherwise struggling farmers. Since 1955, Brazil's staple national school lunch program has responded to economic and social trends - what was once a program focused on ending malnutrition has evolved to address rising rates of obesity and diabetes. Though there is variation in quality and compliance between regions and principals often have to step in to cover unforeseen costs, leaders are optimistic about the value of the program.

El Poder del Consumidor is an organization fighting Coca-Cola's power over health care decisions in Mexico. The organization tried many tactics but only found success after finding friends with enough money to compete with the beverage industry giants.

Many Americans have unhealthy habits which increase their likelihood of getting sick at the cost of taxpayer dollars. Paying people to drop their unhealthy habits has been proven to be an effective way to keep people healthy and save taxpayer dollars.

Programs to get fresh produce carts to areas with no access to healthy food work best when government and determined entrepreneurs team up. Success from this model is evident in New York City, where the city has incentivized the selling of fruits and vegetables by street vendors in areas that are in the most need of the produce.