A new study estimates that sugary drinks contribute to millions of cases of type 2 diabetes and heart disease each year.
Researchers from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy found that 2.2 million new cases of diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease worldwide can be linked to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, highlights the urgent need for action to curb the growing health crisis caused by these drinks.
The impact of sugary drinks is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where these beverages are heavily marketed and widely consumed. The study found that:
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, sugary drinks were responsible for more than 21% of all new diabetes cases.
- In Latin America and the Caribbean, they accounted for nearly 24% of diabetes cases and over 11% of new cardiovascular disease cases.
- In Colombia, 48% of all new diabetes cases were linked to sugary drinks.
- In Mexico, nearly one-third of all new diabetes cases were caused by sugar-sweetened beverages.
- In South Africa, 27.6% of diabetes cases and 14.6% of cardiovascular disease cases were tied to sugary drink consumption.
As countries develop and incomes rise, sugary drinks become more accessible and desirable, leading to even greater health risks. The study also found that men and younger adults are more affected than women and older individuals.
Why Sugary Drinks Are Harmful
Sugary beverages, such as sodas and sweetened fruit juices, provide no essential nutrients but cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. Regular consumption leads to weight gain, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease—two of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, senior author of the study and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts, warned that sugary drinks are aggressively marketed in poorer countries where healthcare systems are often ill-equipped to handle the long-term consequences.
“Not only are these communities consuming harmful products, but they are also less well equipped to deal with the health consequences,” he said.
What Can Be Done?
The researchers emphasize the need for urgent, evidence-based interventions to reduce sugary drink consumption before more lives are affected. Study co-author Dr. Laura Lara-Castor, now at the University of Washington, called for strong public health policies, including:
- Public awareness campaigns to educate people about the risks of sugary drinks.
- Restrictions on advertising, especially targeting children and young adults.
- Taxes on sugary beverages, which have been shown to reduce consumption.
Some countries have already implemented policies to tackle the problem. Mexico, one of the world’s largest consumers of sugary drinks, introduced a sugar tax in 2014. Early results suggest that the tax has helped lower consumption, especially among lower-income groups.
However, experts believe much more needs to be done, particularly in Latin America and Africa, where sugary drink consumption remains high, and health consequences are severe. “As a species, we need to address sugar-sweetened beverage consumption,” Mozaffarian stressed.
This study provides strong evidence that sugary drinks are fueling the global rise in diabetes and heart disease, particularly in developing nations. Without immediate action, the health impact will continue to grow, putting millions of lives at risk.
Governments, healthcare providers, and consumers all have a role to play in reducing sugary drink consumption and improving public health worldwide.
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The research findings can be found in Nature Medicine.
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