Mayor Bloomberg rolled out the lightweights yesterday to help boost the city’s plan to limit soda sizes.
“We hope more mayors and health departments will follow New York City’s example,” declared Weight Watchers President Dave Burwick during a press conference with the mayor at the Flushing Meadows Park recreation center.
Other diet gurus also on board include the creators of Jenny Craig, the South Beach Diet, Best Life Diet, Dukan Diet and Picture Perfect Weight Loss.
Backing up the experts was Rachelle Conley, a 45-year-old mom from Laurelton, Queens, who said she lost 91 of her 279 pounds since 2009 by kicking a vicious sugar habit that included large, sweetened drinks.
Conley, a human resources specialist, said before joining Weight Watchers she would typically have two cups of coffee a day — each with 25 packets of sugar! That was in addition to an 8-ounce sugary drink in the morning; a 16-ounce soda with lunch; another 16-ounce soda with an afternoon snack and five more 8-ounce glasses of sweetened beverages once she got home.
“We grew up in the ’60s and ’70s when it had to be sweet,” she explained of her sugar addiction.
Bloomberg has asked the Board of Health — which he controls — to impose a 16-ounce limit on the size of sugary beverages sold in eating establishments. Supermarkets and other food stores not regulated by the city Health Department would not be affected. The board meets on Sept. 13 to take up the proposal.
While city officials insist consumers will still be able to buy as much soda as they want — as long as the containers are no larger than 16 ounces — Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said he expects “almost immediately” to see a drop in soda consumption when the new regulation takes effect.
Last month, Bloomberg met with Don Thompson, president of McDonald’s, one of the nation’s largest soda sellers. “They’re trying to encourage healthier eating,” the mayor explained.