Canada’s obesity crisis is giving birth to a new problem: an increasing number of caesarean sections among obese mothers-to-be.

A study of nearly 12,000 women who delivered over a 10-year-period at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital found that doctors are far quicker to call for a C-section on women with higher body mass index, or BMI.

It’s not clear why, but researchers say many doctors are scared to deal with obese women. Labour can be slower, and many physicians fear that a heavier woman necessarily means a bigger baby that could get stuck in the birth canal.

C-sections more likely for obese moms

A Bay State lawmaker who has proposed extending Massachusetts’ sales tax to candy and soda compared sugary beverages to cigarettes yesterday as the boss of PepsiCo was in town to address business leaders and told reporters that would be bad policy.

“It’s irresponsible not to look at taxing sugar beverages and candy because of their link to obesity,” said Newton Rep. Kay Khan, whose bill is being reviewed by a House committee. “Companies are making millions by putting this out to people. It’s like cigarettes. It’s not good for people’s health.”

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi’s company boasts 19 billion-dollar brands, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Seven-Up and Diet Pepsi.

Nooyi, who was speaking at a Boston College Chief Executives’ Club lunch, called obesity “a broad issue” that involves much more than sweetened beverages

Pepsi CEO takes on sugar tax – BostonHerald.com

“It’s the parents’ responsibility that have obese kids,” state Sen. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga, said Tuesday, when lawmakers took a shot at solving the state’s obesity epidemic. “I think you need to look at a bill to take the tax deduction away for their child if he’s obese.”

He added: “In poorer families, they actually get money for their kids. I’d take that money away.”

The Republican has not introduced legislation to deny parents the $2,000 standard tax deduction. He responded to the story Wednesday, saying in a statement that he was only kidding:

“I certainly regret my choice of words in the recent debate on Senate Bill 396. It was a tongue-in-cheek comment taken out of context – and should not be taken seriously. I am sensitive to the need to reduce childhood obesity. But I don’t believe a new tax one everyone who buys juice, soda and energy drinks will accomplish the goal. Parents have to take some responsibility.”

However, video shot during yesterday’s committee hearing by Illinois Statehouse News Service may indicate otherwise. The video seems to show Cultra being completely serious when he made the comments. No one in the room laughed and other speakers begin talking in response.

Illinois lawmaker getting international reaction to ‘fat tax’ suggestion