A new study published in the journal Nature has found that sugary drinks are responsible for approximately 340,000 deaths worldwide each year from Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study, which analyzed data from over 450 research studies conducted in 181 countries, also found that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is a major contributor to the growing global obesity epidemic.
The researchers discovered that men tend to consume more soda than women, and that educated adults, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, have higher rates of sugary drink consumption. However, some regions, such as East Asia and Southeast Asia, have lower rates of excess cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes linked to sugary drinks.
The study’s findings are significant because they highlight the negative health effects of sugar-sweetened drinks, which can lead to obesity, liver damage, and increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes. The researchers hope that their study will accelerate efforts to curb the consumption of sugary beverages, particularly in poorer countries where healthcare systems are often ill-equipped to handle diet-related diseases.
While the study’s findings are grim, they also offer reasons for hope. In some countries, such as Brazil, policies aimed at reducing sugary drink consumption have shown promise, including school meal programs, bold front-of-package warnings, and excise taxes on beverages with added sugar.
Overall, the study emphasizes the need for governments and policymakers to take action against the negative health effects of sugary drinks. “Regulators and policymakers appropriately respond to tragic deaths,” said one of the study’s lead authors. “But sugary drinks cause much more death and suffering… we have to change.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/health/sugary-soda-beverages-diabetes-heart-disease.html