A new study published in Nature reveals that sugary drinks are driving a significant increase in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally, with especially severe impacts in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The research, conducted by experts from Tufts University’s School of Nutrition Science and Policy, estimates that sugary drink consumption contributes to 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease each year worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in five new type 2 diabetes cases and in Latin America and the Caribbean, one in four cases can be attributed to sugary drinks.
The study, which analyzes data from 184 countries between 1990 and 2020, indicates that around 11% of new cardiovascular disease cases in the Caribbean and over 10% in Sub-Saharan Africa are linked to sugary beverage consumption.
Sub-Saharan Africa Shows Sharpest Rise
The most dramatic increases in diabetes and CVD cases have been observed in sub-Saharan Africa, where changing dietary habits are fueling the health crisis. Researchers highlighted Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa as particularly affected regions. In Colombia, sugary drinks account for nearly 48% of new diabetes cases, while Mexico and South Africa report 30% and 27.6% respectively. Similarly, sugary drinks are responsible for 23% of CVD cases in Colombia, 14.6% in South Africa, and 13.5% in Mexico.
Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, the study’s senior author, noted that sugar-sweetened beverages are aggressively marketed in low- and middle-income nations, where populations are increasingly consuming harmful products but lack sufficient resources to manage the long-term health consequences. “These communities are less equipped to deal with the health burden caused by these drinks,” Mozaffarian said.
A Wake-Up Call for Africa
The research points to a “nutrition transition” in sub-Saharan Africa, where traditional diets are being replaced by Western-style foods, including sugary beverages. Despite this growing trend, most African nations have yet to implement effective policies to reduce sugary drink consumption, often due to industry opposition and a lack of region-specific data.
The study also highlights differing risk factors across regions. In Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, higher education levels were correlated with greater consumption of sugary drinks, whereas in the Middle East and North Africa, lower education levels were linked to higher intake. Younger individuals and men were also more likely to consume sugary drinks in many regions.
Regional Efforts to Curb Consumption
While some regions have begun to tackle the issue, the impact of sugary drinks remains severe. Latin America and the Caribbean have seen a “modest decrease” in consumption due to the introduction of various policies, such as taxes, marketing restrictions, and public health campaigns. Mexico, which has one of the highest sugary drink consumption rates in the world, implemented a sugary drink tax in 2014. South Africa followed suit in 2018 with the Health Promotion Levy, taxing drinks with more than 4 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters. In Colombia, a tax introduced in November 2023 also targets sugary drinks, with rates varying according to sugar content.
Despite these measures, the study finds that the overall health burden from sugary drinks continues to rise due to escalating obesity rates, increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and other contributing factors like physical inactivity and high consumption of refined grains.
Call for Action
The researchers urge governments to strengthen efforts to reduce sugary drink consumption, particularly in regions with the highest rates of consumption and health consequences. This includes enhancing public health campaigns, regulating sugary drink advertising, and imposing taxes on sugary beverages.
Professor Mozaffarian emphasizes the urgency of action, noting that the liquid form of sugary drinks allows them to be quickly consumed and digested, leading to higher caloric intake, weight gain, and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
“This is a clarion call for more aggressive action, especially in countries where consumption is high and the health consequences are severe,” he concluded.
Conclusion
As sugary drinks continue to contribute to a global health crisis, particularly in developing regions, stronger policy measures and public health initiatives are needed to curb their consumption. The growing evidence of their link to diabetes and cardiovascular disease calls for immediate, sustained action to protect public health.
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