Millions of new cases of diabetes and heart disease are caused by sugary drinks every year, according to newly published research.
Tufts University in Boston led the study, which found about 2.2 million new diagnoses type 2 diabetes and according to a press release, 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease annually were attributed to sugar-sweetened soft drinks and juices.
The findings were published this week in the journal Nature Medicine.
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The highest figures were found in Colombia, where 48% of new diabetes cases were linked sugary drinksand in Mexico, where almost a third of cases were attributed to them.
Meanwhile, in Latin America, more than 24% are new diabetes cases were linked to sugary drinks, and 21% in sub-Saharan Africa, the study found.
According to the findings of a new study, approximately 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease occur worldwide each year due to the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and juices. (iStock)
In South Africa, 27.6% of new diabetes cases and 14.6% of cardiovascular disease cases were attributed to sugary drinks.
Sugary drinks are digested quickly, causing a spike in blood sugar levels with little nutritional value.
Sugary drinks cause blood sugar levels to rise because they are “digested quickly,” the research team said.
With long-term use, in addition to increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, these types of drinks can also lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, the researchers added.
Men are more likely than women to suffer the consequences of consuming sugary drinks, as are younger adults compared to their older counterparts, a new study claims. (iStock)
Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, senior author of the study, said in a university press release: “Sugar-sweetened beverages are heavily marketed and sold in low- and middle-income countries.”
He added: ‘These communities not only consume harmful products, but are often less equipped to deal with the long-term problems. health consequences.”
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Certain groups are more likely to experience negative health effects from sugary drinks, including men and younger adults, the researchers noted, as news agency SWNS also noted.
New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study, said the findings were expected since diets rich in added sugars They are more likely to increase the risk of chronic health problems, including type 2 diabetes.
With long-term use, these types of drinks can also lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, experts say. (iStock)
“Sugar-sweetened beverages are a major contributor to added sugars in the diet and easy to overconsume because they provide little satiety,” she told Fox News Digital.
“The high calorie content and lack of satisfaction resulting from low protein, fat or fiber in these drinks can lead to excess calorie consumption, which can lead to weight gain – especially the increase in visceral fat (belly fat), which has been found to increase risk of type 2 diabetes,” she continued.
“Sugar-sweetened beverages are easy to overconsume because they provide little satiety.”
Palinski-Wade pointed out that there were some limitations to the new research.
“This was one observational researchnot a causal study, and only shows an association between diets containing sugar-sweetened beverages and diabetes,” she noted.
“It doesn’t prove that those drinks alone cause the onset of type 2 diabetes.”
What needs to change?
To solve the problem, the study authors called for a “multi-pronged approach,” including public health campaigns, regulations on advertising and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, the publication said.
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‘We need urgent, evidence-based interventions reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages worldwide, before even more lives are shortened by their effects on diabetes and heart disease,” said first author Laura Lara-Castor, now at the University of Washington, in the press release.
About 65% of adults in the US consume sugar-sweetened beverages every day. (iStock)
Mexico introduced a tax on sugary drinks in 2014, which has proven effective in curbing consumption, the researchers said.
“Much more needs to be done, especially in countries in Latin America and Africa, where consumption is high and health consequences are severe,” Mozaffarian wrote.
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“As a species we need to address this sugar-sweetened drink consumption.”
There are many different factors involved in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, Palinski-Wade noted.
“As a species, we need to address the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.”
“However, reducing your intake of sugar-sweetened beverages can go a long way toward improving overall blood sugar control and future health.”
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The new research was supported by the Gates Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology.
Fox News Digital reached out to investigators for further comment.
