New York Citys Board of Health voted Thursday to ban the sale of sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces in restaurants and other venues in a move meant to combat obesity and encourage residents to live healthier lifestyles The board voted eight in favor with one abstentionIts time to face the facts obesity is one of Americas most deadly problems and sugary beverages are a leading cause of it said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement earlier this month As the size of sugary drinks has grown so have our waistlines  and so have diabetes and heart diseaseBloombergs visionary move against obesity But the move is expected to draw further protest from the soda industry and those concerned about government involvement in their personal choicesWhat we need in New York are sensible solutions to the obesity issue that focus on a comprehensive approach to tackle an extremely complex problem said Eliot Hoff a spokesman for a beverage industrysponsored group called New Yorkers for Beverage Choices New Yorkers are smart enough to decide for themselves what to eat and drinkCritics including McDonalds and CocaCola have assailed the ban as misguided and arbitrary though Bloomberg has billed it as both a health and fiscal initiative New York City spends an estimated 4 billion each year on medical care for overweight people the mayor said in an earlier statement Big Gulp  Meet Big Brother One in eight New Yorkers also suffer from diabetes a disease often linked to obesity his office noted calling sugary drinks the single largest driver of these alarming increases in obesityAbout 58  of New York City adults are considered overweight or obese the mayor added In 2007 the Bloombergappointed health board adopted a regulation that forced restaurants to all but eliminate the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and spreads the main sources of trans fats in the US diet Thursdays decision is expected to take effect in six months and be enforced by the citys regular restaurant inspection team allowing restaurant owners nine months to adapt to the changes before facing fines6 months from today our city will be an even healthier place Bloomberg tweeted on Thursday The ban would not apply to grocery stores Forget large sodas how about banning French fries  