Sugary drinks linked to global rise in diabetes and heart disease

Worldwide, consumption of sugary drinks is responsible for about 340,000 deaths each year from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a study released Monday that is one of the largest attempts to assess the spread Western eating habits. affecting global health.

The study, published in the journal Nature, also found that sugary drinks were linked to an additional 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million cases of cardiovascular disease in 2020, with a disproportionate share of these cases concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. .

As it happens, these two continents have also seen the largest increase in soft drink consumption in recent years, with soft drink companies, facing declining sales in North America and Europe, looking for new customers in developing countries.

The estimated death toll of 340,000 represents a significant increase from previous assessments of the impact of sugary drinks on global health. A 2015 study published in the journal Circulation estimated 184,000 deaths worldwide in 2010 due to consumption of sugary drinks.

The negative health effects of sugary drinks – carbonated sodas, energy drinks and juices laced with sugar – are well documented. By quickly flooding the body with empty calories, they often replace foods and drinks with greater nutritional value.

Regular consumption of extra sugar from drinks can lead to obesity, harm liver function and increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, a particularly insidious disease that can lead to blindness. to amputations and premature death.