Energy balance

Implementing excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in middle-income countries reduces net energy intake and prevents further growth in obesity prevalence, though it does not permanently reduce population weight.

For policymakers in middle-income countries, implementing an excise tax on sugary drinks is an effective strategy to halt the rise in obesity rates. While it won't cure existing obesity, it reduces net calorie intake by making sugary drinks more expensive, leveraging consumer price sensitivity. The key is that the tax must be structured to pass through to consumer prices.