Sugar Has Long Been the Main Ingredient in Soft Drinks. It’s Also Contributed to a Silent Pandemic

Sugary drinks became widespread a few years ago. Mainly because of their appealing taste and effective marketing strategies, they came to represent globalization. Over time, awareness of the health risks linked to excessive consumption of these beverages has increased. Some countries have even instituted a tax on soft drinks to decrease sugar intake.

According to a new study from Tufts University, the consumption of these beverages remains alarmingly high in many countries. This persistent intake is linked to millions of new cases of type 2 diabetes each year.

Sugar pandemic. Researchers analyzed beverage consumption data from the Global Dietary Database, which includes information from more than 450 surveys and a sample of 2.9 million people across 184 countries. The findings reveal concerning statistics.

According to the study, sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with around 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease and 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes globally each year. This is particularly surprising, given how normalized and integrated these beverages have become.

Reasons. Sugary drinks are well-known to be linked to type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other health disorders. The primary issue is that these beverages are digested quickly, leading to sharp spikes in blood glucose levels without providing essential nutrients. Similar to beer, they contain empty calories but have a significantly higher sugar content.

When repeated, this rapid absorption process contributes to weight gain and, more importantly, insulin resistance. This condition can result in metabolic issues, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Alarmingly, the recent study shows that sugary drinks contribute to around 80,000 deaths annually due to type 2 diabetes and 258,000 deaths related to cardiovascular diseases.

Latin America and Africa. In recent years, some countries have implemented measures such as sugar taxes to promote healthier diets and lifestyles. As a result, sugar consumption has decreased in these areas. However, this trend isn’t universal. The study focuses on two regions: Latin America and Africa.

In Mexico, the regular consumption of sugary drinks is associated with nearly one-third of new diabetes cases. In Colombia, this figure rises to almost half. Meanwhile, in South Africa, sugary beverages are linked to around 28% of new diabetes cases and 15% of new cardiovascular events.

The explanation for these alarming statistics is straightforward. In countries and communities with lower average incomes, limited access to information, and restricted preventive medical care, the rates of these health issues soar.

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Not all beverages. The study specifically examined sugar-sweetened beverages that contain added sugars and have at least 50 kilocalories per 240 ml. This category includes soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, punch, lemonade, and flavored waters.

In contrast, the study didn’t focus on milk (which contains natural sugars), 100% natural juices with no additives, and noncaloric drinks that are sweetened without additional sugars. However, these beverages may be the subject of future studies. Researchers note that while they don’t contain added sugars, their excessive consumption could still negatively impact health.

Solutions. Lead author Laura Lara-Castor emphasizes, “We need urgent, evidence-based interventions to curb the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages globally, before even more lives are shortened by their effects on diabetes and heart disease.” Author Dariush Mozaffarian also highlights the need for increased attention to countries in Latin America and Africa.

Mozaffarian views the consumption of sugary drinks as a true epidemic. “As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption,” he says. The study emphasizes the dangers of high and frequent consumption of these beverages. However, an occasional soft drink, while not necessarily healthy, can be acceptable in moderation.

In the end, the study aims to shift the focus away from individual responsibility to a collective responsibility that involves governments, health systems, and, perhaps most importantly, the beverage industry itself.

Image | Nik. A.

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