A new study suggests that drinking too many sugary beverages may raise the risk of dying from certain types of cancer. Researchers found that people who regularly consumed these drinks had a higher chance of developing obesity-related cancers, as well as specific types such as colon and kidney cancer.
Why Sugary Drinks Are a Concern
Sugary drinks, including sodas, fruit punches, and other sweetened beverages, are already linked to weight gain and obesity. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting sugar intake, but many Americans consume more than the advised amount.
Dr. Marjorie McCullough, the study’s lead author and senior scientific director at the American Cancer Society, explained that excess sugar consumption is a well-known risk factor for obesity. Since obesity is linked to several types of cancer, researchers wanted to investigate whether sugary drinks directly contribute to cancer deaths.
The Study and Its Findings
Researchers analyzed data from a long-term cancer prevention study that began in 1982. At that time, over 934,000 cancer-free participants provided information about their beverage consumption. Scientists tracked their health until 2016, by which time more than 135,000 participants had died from cancer.
The study found that:
- Drinking more than two sugary beverages per day was linked to a higher risk of obesity-related cancers. However, this link disappeared when researchers adjusted for body mass index (BMI), suggesting that weight gain played a significant role.
- Even after adjusting for BMI, sugary drinks were still linked to higher death rates from colon and kidney cancer.
- People who drank artificially sweetened beverages had an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, even when BMI was taken into account.
These findings suggest that the effects of sugary drinks on cancer risk may go beyond just weight gain.
What This Means for Public Health
While the American Beverage Association, which represents the soft drink industry, did not comment on the study, its findings add to growing concerns about the impact of sugary drinks on health.
The study’s authors believe the results should help guide public health policies to encourage people to reduce their consumption of sweetened beverages.
Dr. McCullough emphasized the importance of considering BMI when studying the link between sugary drinks and cancer risk. Future research will need to explore how these beverages affect cancer development beyond their role in obesity.
For now, experts recommend limiting sugary drinks and choosing healthier alternatives, such as water, unsweetened tea, or drinks with no added sugar. Reducing sugar intake may not only help prevent weight gain but could also lower the risk of serious diseases like cancer.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods, and results showing daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce cancer death risk.
The research findings can be found in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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