A recent study published in Nature Medicine warns about the growing impact of the consumption of sugary drinks on the incidence of chronic diseases globally.
According to research, these drinks are directly linked to millions of new cases of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases annually, especially affecting low- and middle-income countries, like many in Latin America.
Each year, the consumption of sugary drinks is related to:
- 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes.
- 1.2 million diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases.
This represents the 9.8% and 3.1%respectively, of the global cases of these diseases. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the situation is particularly critical, with these beverages responsible for more than 10% of cardiovascular diseases diagnosed in adults.
Argentina and Colombia among the most affected
Of the 30 most populated countries analyzed in the study, Argentina and Colombia stand out among the most affected:
- Argentina registered 544 new cases of type 2 diabetes per million inhabitants attributed to the consumption of sugary drinks in 2020.
- Colombia, with 793 cases per millionleads the regional statistics.
Consumption patterns and inequality
The study indicates that the massive promotion of sugary drinks in urban areas and their reliance on rural areas, where they often replace drinking water, have exacerbated the problem. In Latin America, these drinks have replaced traditional foods, which translates into a sustained increase in metabolic diseases.
Groups like young men and inhabitants of urban areas register the highest levels of consumption, which significantly increases their risk of suffering from diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis.
The relationship between sugary drinks and metabolic diseases
Regular consumption of these drinks, rich in quickly absorbed sugars, causes:
- Increased blood glucoseoverloading the pancreas.
- insulin resistancea key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes.
- Visceral fat accumulationwhich affects vital organs such as the heart and liver.
Furthermore, they activate inflammatory pathways that increase the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.
The call to action
The researchers highlight the need to implement urgent interventions to reduce the consumption of these drinks. This includes measures such as:
- Warning labels on packagingas is already implemented in countries like Mexico.
- Public education campaigns to raise awareness about the associated risks.
- Fiscal policiessuch as specific taxes on sugary drinks, to discourage their consumption.
According to the study’s lead author, Laura Lara-Castor, these interventions could prevent millions of cases of chronic diseases in the coming decades and significantly improve quality of life in vulnerable regions.
Source: Ambito
