January 12, 2025, 3:53 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The number of people who have diabetes continues to rise. According to forecasts, the disease is even expected to hit the billion mark by 2050. According to a new study, this could be due to the consumption of sweetened drinks, among other things.
Worldwide, 537 million people are affected by type 2 diabetes.1 In addition to hereditary predisposition, obesity, and lack of exercise, the disease can be triggered by an unbalanced diet that is particularly high in sugar – and this includes drinks. A study by Tufts University shows the health effects that high-sugar drinks can have – and not just with regard to diabetes.
Overview
Definition of Sugary Drinks
The scientists defined high-sugar drinks as all drinks to which sugar had been added and which contained more than 50 kilocalories per 237 grams (one serving).2 These included, for example:
- Commercial or homemade drinks
- Soft drinks
- Energy drinks
- Fruit drinks
- Punch
- Lemonade
- Non-alcoholic drinks
100% fruit and vegetable juices, calorie-free, artificially sweetened drinks, and sweetened milk were excluded. Alcoholic beverages were also excluded, as high consumption of alcohol promotes other diseases and could, therefore, distort the studies.
Review of Various Studies from Different Countries
For the study, the researchers used data collected between 1980 and 2018 by members of the GDD consortium (Society for Data Protection and Data Security) and from publicly available sources in the form of studies on food intake. A total of 1,224 dietary surveys from 118 countries were taken into account, comprising data from 2.9 million people over the age of 20.
The data was transferred to a so-called CRA model, which can calculate the number, proportions, years of life, and mortality. Socio-demographic data and diseases such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Ischaemic stroke
- Significant weight gain and loss
High Risk of Diabetes from Sugary Drinks
Those who reach for sugary drinks should probably switch to other options in the future. The analyses show that 2.2 million new cases of diabetes worldwide can be attributed to consumption. However, the proportions vary greatly from region to region – developing countries often have higher figures. Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular, have high rates. According to the study, 24.4 percent of all new cases of diabetes in these regions are said to have been caused by sugary drinks. In sub-Saharan Africa, 21.5 percent are attributable to this.
On a country level, the scientists worked out the following figures for new cases of diabetes caused by sugary drinks:
- Colombia: 48.1 percent
- Mexico: 30 percent
- South Africa: 27.6 percent
High-Sugar Drinks Also Cause Heart Disease
However, high per capita consumption not only causes diabetes – the researchers also took a closer look at the risk of heart disease and came up with similarly alarming figures. According to the analysis, sugary drinks contribute to a total of 1.2 million new cases of heart disease. In the Caribbean, 11.3 percent is attributable to consumption, and in sub-Saharan Africa, 10.5 percent.
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Classification of the Study
“Sugar-sweetened beverages are aggressively marketed and sold in low- and middle-income countries. Not only do these communities consume harmful products, but they are often less equipped to deal with the long-term health consequences,” Laura Lara-Castor, lead author of the study, explains the significance of the findings in a press release.3 “Significant efforts are required, particularly in Latin American and African countries where consumption is high and the health consequences are severe,” adds Dariush Mozaffarian, lead author of the study.
In further contextualizing the study, it should be noted that it is a synthesis and analysis of various research and dietary surveys. This could distort the results due to different designs, study objectives, and regional resources. The comparability of the different countries could, therefore, be called into question. Nevertheless, the study once again provides arguments for avoiding sweetened drinks wherever possible.