A new study has quantified the devastating impact of sugary drinks on global health. Researchers from Tufts University found that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.
SSBs, including sodas and energy drinks, are high in added sugars but low in nutritional value. The study suggests that SSBs contribute to approximately 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease and 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes each year worldwide.
The study’s authors note that SSBs are heavily marketed in developing countries, where communities may lack the resources to address long-term health consequences. The researchers found that nearly one-third of all new diabetes cases in Mexico and nearly half of all new diabetes cases in Colombia can be attributed to sugary drinks.
The study analyzed data from 2.9 million people across 118 countries and found that SSBs cause approximately 80,000 deaths from type 2 diabetes and 258,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease each year. The researchers emphasize the need for urgent evidence-based interventions to curb consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages globally.
“The problem is especially dire in some countries,” says senior author Dariush Mozaffarian. “As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.” The study was published in Nature Medicine.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-quantified-harm-sugary-drinks-113052633.html