Flemington, NJ, July 9, 2010 – Results from a new national media study among 300 Americans revealed that the clear majority (74%) indicated that there should not be a tax placed on drinks with high sugar content.

The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website during July 8-9, to obtain Americans’ perceptions of whether a tax should be placed on sugary drinks, and whether obese individuals should pay higher insurance costs.

The study also revealed that 85% of respondents reported that the rise in medical costs has been moderately or highly impacted by the increase in obesity and obesity-related conditions -- up from 76% in a similar study conducted last year. In addition, more than half of respondents (51%) indicated that they would support a soda tax that would potentially decrease health care costs.

Among the findings:

Do you think the government should tax beverages that are higher in sugar?

To what extend do you think the rise of medical costs is impacted by increase in obesity and obesity-related conditions in the U.S.?

Would you support a soda tax that would potentially decrease the number of obese people in America?

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).  You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.