Increased risk of diabetes and stroke due to a familiar drink

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, there is evidence that people who regularly consume sugary drinks will face an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Sugary drink consumption is also linked to weight gain and obesity in children and adults. These are all major risk factors for many diseases, and are especially unhealthy for children.

Regular consumption of sugary drinks increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases

PHOTO: PHUONG AN CREATED BY GEMINI AI

In Vietnam, sugary beverage consumption has increased rapidly over the past 15 years. In 2023, people drank four times more sugary drinks than in 2009, with an average of nearly 70 liters of sugary drinks per person per year, equivalent to 1.3 liters per week.

The 2020 National Nutrition Survey showed that the rate of overweight and obesity in adolescents increased from 2.6% in 2002 to 8.5% in 2010 and reached 19% in 2020. The rate of overweight and obesity in adults also nearly doubled from 10.9% to 18.3%. At schools, adolescents tend to increase their consumption of soft drinks and industrially processed foods, especially in urban areas.

WHO recommends imposing taxes on sugary drinks to increase prices and reduce consumption. This measure is effective in changing the habits of children and adolescents, who are more affected by price. WHO says about 110 countries have already imposed taxes on sugary drinks. This solution helps improve health and reduce health costs, increasing government revenue.

At the same time, WHO also recommends raising public awareness about sugary drink consumption. Currently, not many people know that a 330 ml can of carbonated soft drink can contain up to 10 teaspoons or 40 grams of sugar. Meanwhile, WHO's recommendation for adults is less than 50 grams of sugar/person/day.

Regarding the impact on the consumption of sugary soft drinks, according to references from other countries and some studies in Vietnam, if a 10% tax is applied on the factory price (increasing the selling price by about 5%), it is estimated that the consumption of soft drinks will decrease by about 2.6 liters/person/year compared to the present. The reduction in consumption can reach 9.8 - 10.5 liters/person/year when the tax is higher, causing the selling price to increase by 19 - 20%.

19% is the rate of overweight and obesity in adolescents in 2020. This rate was 2.6% in 2002; 8.5% in 2010.

(National Nutrition Survey 2020)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguy-co-tang-tieu-duong-dot-quy-do-mot-loai-do-uong-quen-thuoc-185250601201659951.htm