Sweetened beverages have long been a staple of today’s diet, but researchers are highlighting that they are far more detrimental to global health.
A study published in Nature Medicine by researchers at the Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy estimates that sugar-sweetened beverages are responsible for 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease each year.
The large-scale study analyzed 30 years of data from 184 countries, covering 1990-2020.
The study found significant differences in how these beverages affect different populations. According to the results, men, younger people, highly educated people and urban populations are at higher risk.
While developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean have shown alarming numbers of diseases due to the consumption of sugary drinks.
Africa accounts for more than 21% of diabetes cases and Latin America for almost 24% of new diabetes cases.
