Sugar-sweetened sodas, sports drinks, and fruit drinks may be associated with about 180,000 deaths around the world each year, according to new research. Sugar-sweetened beverages are consumed throughout the world and contribute to excess body weight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. Using data collected as part of the 2010 global burden of diseases study, researchers linked intake of sugar-sweetened beverages to 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases, and 6,000 cancer deaths. Seventy-eight percent of these deaths due to over consuming sugary drinks were in low and middle-income countries, rather than high-income countries.
“In the US, our research shows that about 25,000 deaths in 2010 were linked to drinking sugar-sweetened beverages,” said Gitanjali M. Singh, PhD. The American heart association recommends adults consume no more than 450 calories per week from sugar-sweetened beverages, based on a 2,000 calorie/day diet.
