Large sugary beverages are one of the leading causes of serious health problems in the United States. One major issue in the United States is the obesity rate. The high sugars in sodas and in other beverages cause the obesity rate to increase every year. In turn, obesity will lead to more serious problems such as diabetes and heart disease. By banning large sugary drinks, there is a strong possibility that the obesity rate will go down. If the obesity rate in America decreases, there will be a lower percentage of people who have diabetes and heart disease. I am interested in this research question, because not only is the obesity rate is extremely high, I also have personal connection to a family member with diabetes. My uncle did not realize the dangers of consuming excess sugars with minimal exercise until it was too late and he was already diagnosed with Type II diabetes. I certainly believe that soda is one of the leading causes of this disease. Large sugary beverages, such as soda should be banned nationally. Soda, especially is the most consumed beverage after water. Banning large portioned sodas can lead to a decrease in its consumption.

 I am qualified to write about this, since I have personal experience with some of the health problems that large sugary drinks can cause and I thoroughly researched this topic. My uncle currently suffers with Type II diabetes and my best friend's grandfather passed away due to heart disease. I realized the dangers of consuming large amounts of soda and other sugary beverages early on because of this. The large sugary drink ban on the country will allow people to be more aware of the problems caused by consuming sugary drinks and enforce them to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Large sugary drinks should be banned nationally because of the many health problems they can cause, the incredible amount of health benefits by consuming less or none, and the many solutions already presented by scientists to reduce the consumption of them. New York City already set an example worldwide by taking the initiative to ban the sale of large sugary drinks over sixteen ounces. I believe that the rest of the country should use New York City's actions as a platform to further improve current nutritional policies to cut down the obesity, diabetes and heart disease rate. By using New York City's idea to ban the sale of large sugary beverages, the country would be taking steps toward becoming a healthy nation.  

My first source is an informative article about New York City's initiative to ban large sugary beverages over sixteen ounces. The article was written by Micheal M. Grynbaum and he is a credible author, because he is a world renowned New York Times journalist. The article is a credible source because it is an informative article containing no bias. Grynbaum states only factual information about the ban and does not let his personal opinions reflect on the article. He writes about, New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg's, plan to ban the sale of sugary beverages of sixteen ounces or more. More than half the adult population of New York City is obese (Grynbaum, n.p.). Many people, including Bloomberg, feel that banning large sugary drinks will decrease the obesity rate and motivate people to lead healthier lifestyles. The ban will be put into effect March under the "first-in-the-nation" plan. 

My second source is an argumentative article about New York City's decision to ban large sugary drinks. The author of the article is Lawrence O. Gostin, is a credible on this topic because he is a journalist for Cable News Network and a Global Health Law professor at Georgetown University. The article contains bias, because Gostin supports the ban. However, he provides evidence that large sugary drinks can increase the obesity, diabetes and heart disease rate in New York City, and ultimately lead to more dangerous health complications in result from them. His article, Banning Large Sodas Is Legal and Smart, promotes the New York City ban on sugary beverages 16 ounces and over. Gostin informs that six out of ten New York City residents are obese, along with four out of ten children residing in New York City. He says these unacceptable statistics are leading causes to many diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. He supports the ban because of its limitation of large portioned sugary beverages and believes it will lead to a decrease in the obesity rate. People will recognize amount sugar/calories they are consuming and control their diet. He believes that the ban on large sugary drinks is "a little nudge in the right direction."

My third source is about the importance of cutting down sugary drinks, such as soda, and tips to decrease soda intake. The author of this article, Amanda MacMillan, is a journalist for health.com. She is a specialist in the area of health and science and writes articles for the Cable News Network, National Geographic Magazine, and Popular Science. Her article is slightly bias, because she only focuses on the negative effects of soda and the importance of cutting down the amount of one's soda intake. She explains drinking excess soda can lead to diabetes, heart disease, brittleness of bones, and decay in tooth enamel. Not only that, the high amount of sugar found in soda is an unnecessary absorption of excess calories too (MacMillan, n.p.). MacMillan tips to reduce soda intake include drinking more water, buying seltzer instead of soda, and steering clear of foods that cause soda cravings.

My research question is arguable, because there are two sides to the issue. There are people that support the ban of large sugary drinks and there are people who are against the ban of large sugary drinks. People who support the ban know the negative health effects of drinking large sugary beverages. People who disagree with the ban believe that the Government does not have a right to limit their sugary beverage intake. I might revise my research question by focusing on a single state instead of the whole country. 

