Sugary drinks caused an estimated 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes in 2020

According to a new study published in Nature Medicine, sugary drink consumption in 2020 led to an estimated 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes globally.

Sugary drinks caused an estimated 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes in 2020

According to a new study published in Nature Medicine, sugary drink consumption in 2020 led to an estimated 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes globally.

The study, which looked at data from 184 countries, estimated that sugary drinks caused 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Illustration photo.

The effects of sugary beverage consumption are not uniform across demographic groups. On average, the disease burden from sugary beverages is higher among men, young adults, those with higher levels of education, and those living in urban areas.

In addition, the burden of disease is uneven across regions of the world . Research shows that sugary drinks are a major cause of the highest rates of diabetes in regions such as Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.

In sub-Saharan Africa, sugary drinks were a contributing factor to about 21% of all new diabetes cases in 2020. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the proportion was nearly 24% of new diabetes cases and more than 11% of new cardiovascular disease cases.

Colombia is the country with the highest increase in type 2 diabetes cases due to sugary drink consumption, with an average of 793 new cases per 1 million adults between 1990 and 2020. In 2020, nearly 50% of new diabetes cases in the country were linked to sugary drink consumption.

The United States ranked second on the list, with an average of 671 new cases of type 2 diabetes per 1 million adults between 1990 and 2020. The study also found that sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest increases in both diabetes and cardiovascular disease over this period.

Experts hope this research will help shape effective policies and interventions to reduce the disease burden caused by sugary drinks globally.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages are being heavily marketed and consumed in low- and middle-income countries, and it is worrying that these communities are not only consuming harmful products but also struggling to cope with the long-term health consequences,” said Dariush Mozaffarian, lead author of the study and director of the Food as Medicine Institute at Tufts University.

Sugar consumption in Vietnam has increased significantly in recent years, especially in sugary drinks. According to statistics from the National Institute of Nutrition, the average sugar consumption of Vietnamese people in 2018 reached 46.5 grams/day, double the recommended level of the World Health Organization (WHO), just under 25 grams/day. Sugar consumption exceeding this level is the main cause of chronic non-communicable diseases and threatens public health.

Dr. Bui Thi Mai Huong from the National Institute of Nutrition said that sugar is not only found in processed foods but also in many natural foods such as fruits, vegetables and milk. However, Vietnamese people consume an amount of sugar that exceeds the level recommended by international health organizations.

One of the main causes of high sugar consumption is the habit of drinking carbonated soft drinks. According to a study of nearly 2,000 people, more than 57% of the population has the habit of drinking carbonated soft drinks, of which 13% of men and more than 10% of women drink every day. A can of carbonated soft drink can contain up to 36 grams of sugar, almost equal to the daily sugar consumption.

Consuming excessive sugar not only increases the risk of diabetes and obesity, but also leads to heart problems, blood pressure, and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Huong warned that excessive sugar consumption also affects the brain, related to memory and cognitive ability, and creates sugar addiction, making it difficult for consumers to give up this habit.

To protect public health, nutrition experts recommend reducing the amount of free sugars in the diet, especially from processed foods and sugary drinks.

WHO recommends reducing free sugars to less than 10% of total daily energy intake, and if possible, to less than 5%. Additionally, the American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 25g of sugar (equivalent to 6 teaspoons) per day.

Experts also recommend that consumers replace sugary drinks with water, unsweetened juice, unsweetened iced tea, or other less sweet drinks to protect their health. In addition, reading food labels and choosing products with less sugar is also an important habit.

The Vietnamese government is implementing strategies to reduce sugar consumption, including imposing a tax on sugary drinks.

The Ministry of Health has proposed a tax rate of up to 40%, or increasing it gradually over time. In addition to raising the tax, the Ministry of Health also recommends increasing public education about the harmful effects of sugary drinks and encouraging businesses to produce products with less sugar.

Nutritionists and food manufacturers say reducing sugar intake is not only the responsibility of consumers but also the task of businesses.

Solutions such as replacing refined sugar with natural ingredients will help reduce the harmful effects of sugar on health and help the food industry develop sustainably.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/do-uong-co-duong-gay-ra-khoang-22-trieu-ca-tieu-duong-tuyp-2-trong-nam-2020-d244701.html