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

According to a new study published in Nature Medicine, the consumption of sugary drinks in 2020 led to approximately 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes globally.

Sugary drinks caused approximately 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes in 2020.

According to a new study published in Nature Medicine, the consumption of sugary drinks in 2020 led to approximately 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes globally.

This study evaluated data from 184 countries to estimate the incidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease caused by the consumption of sugary drinks. Additionally, researchers estimated that approximately 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease were caused by these beverages.

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The effects of sugary drink consumption are uneven across demographic groups. On average, the burden of disease from sugary drinks is higher among men, young adults, those with higher levels of education, and those living in urban areas.

Furthermore, the burden of disease is not evenly distributed across regions of the world . Research indicates that sugary drinks are the leading cause of the highest rates of diabetes in areas such as Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa.

In sub-Saharan Africa, sugary drinks contributed to approximately 21% of all new diabetes cases in 2020. In Latin America and the Caribbean, this figure was nearly 24% of new diabetes cases and over 11% of new cardiovascular disease cases.

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

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

Experts expect this research to help formulate effective policies and interventions to reduce the global burden of disease caused by sugary drinks.

Dariush Mozaffarian, lead author of the study and Director of the Institute for Food and Medicine at Tufts University, noted that sugary drinks are being heavily marketed and consumed in low- and middle-income countries. Worryingly, these communities not only consume harmful products but also struggle to cope with the long-term health consequences.

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 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of just under 25 grams/day. This excessive sugar consumption is a major cause of chronic non-communicable diseases and threatens public health.

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

One of the main causes of high sugar consumption is the habit of drinking sugary soft drinks. According to a study of nearly 2,000 people, more than 57% of the population habitually drink sugary soft drinks, with 13% of men and over 10% of women drinking them daily. A single can of soft drink can contain up to 36 grams of sugar, almost equivalent to a day's recommended sugar intake.

Excessive sugar consumption not only increases the risk of diabetes and obesity but also leads to cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Huong warned that excessive sugar consumption also affects the brain, impacting memory and cognitive abilities, and can create sugar addiction, making it difficult for consumers to break 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.

The WHO recommends reducing free sugar intake to less than 10% of total daily energy consumption, and ideally, 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 advise consumers to replace sugary drinks with water, unsweetened juices, unsweetened iced tea, or other low-sugar beverages to protect their health. In addition, reading food labels and choosing low-sugar products is also an important habit.

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

The Ministry of Health has proposed a tax rate of up to 40%, or a gradual increase according to a schedule. In addition to increasing taxes, the Ministry of Health also recommends strengthening public education about the harmful effects of sugary drinks and encouraging businesses to produce low-sugar products.

Nutritionists and food manufacturers alike agree that reducing sugar intake is not only the responsibility of consumers but also a task for businesses.

Solutions such as replacing refined sugar with natural ingredients will help minimize the harmful effects of sugar on health and contribute to the sustainable development of the food industry.

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