Increasing consumption of sugary drinks globally: facts, health and risks
Sugary drinks (which are also classified as sugar-sweetened drinks or "soft" drinks) refer to any drink with added sugar or other sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, fruit juice concentrates, and more). These include soda, pop, cola, tonic, punch with fruits, lemonades (and other "drinks") and powder-sweetened drinks, as well as sports and energy drinks. As a category, these drinks are the largest source of calories and added sugar in the U.S. diet. In other parts of the world, especially developing countries, consumption of sugary drinks is rising dramatically due to large-scale urbanization and marketing of beverages.
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- Sugary drinks, including soda, fruit punches, energy drinks, and more, are the leading source of added sugar and empty calories in the American diet.
- These drinks contribute to weight gain and offer almost no nutritional value, as people tend not to reduce their food intake to offset the extra calories.
- Regular consumption of sugary beverages significantly increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even premature death.
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- Portion sizes of sugary drinks have expanded drastically over the decades, leading to increased consumption, especially among children and adolescents.
- Though sugary drink intake has declined slightly in the U.S., half the population still consumes them daily, often far exceeding recommended sugar limits.
- Globally, sugary drink consumption is surging, particularly in developing countries due to urbanization and aggressive marketing campaigns.
- Tackling the public health impact of sugary drinks requires coordinated efforts from individuals, policymakers, and the food industry to promote healthier alternatives like water and flavored sparkling beverages.
Sugary drinks and health
When it comes to ranking the best drinks for our health, sugary drinks come at the bottom of the list because they provide a lot of calories and contain almost no other nutrients. People who drink sugary drinks don't feel as full as if they've eaten the same calories from solid foods, and research suggests that they also don't compensate for the higher calorie content of these drinks by eating less. A medium can of sugar-sweetened soda or fruit juice provides about 150 calories, almost all of which are added sugar. If you drink only one of these sugary drinks every day, and you don't reduce your calories anywhere else, you may gain up to 5 pounds in one year. Other than being overweight, routinely drinking these sugar-laden beverages can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, increased consumption of sugary drinks has been associated with an increased risk of premature death.
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Sugary drinks swell and obesity epidemic spreads
There is sufficient scientific evidence that reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages would reduce the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Unfortunately, sugary drinks are a regular drink of choice for millions around the world and are one of the main causes of the obesity epidemic. Pouring sugary drinks into glass Further complicating the problem, portion sizes of sugary drinks have risen dramatically over the past forty years, leading to increased consumption among children and adults:
Before the fifties, standard soft drink bottles were 6.5 ounces. In the 1960s, soft drink manufacturers introduced larger sizes, including a 12-ounce can, which became widely available in 1960. By the early nineties, 20-ounce plastic bottles had become the norm. Today, circumferential-shaped plastic bottles are available in larger volumes, such as one litre.
In the 1990s, sugary drinks accounted for about 4% of daily calories in the United States; by 2001, that percentage had risen to about 9%.
Children and young adults in the United States consumed an average of 224 calories per day from sugary drinks from 1999 to 2004 — approximately 11% of their daily calorie intake. From 1989 to 2008, calories from sugary drinks increased by 60 percent in children aged 6 to 11, from 130 to 209 calories per day, and the proportion of children consuming them increased from 79 percent to 91 percent. In 2005, sugary drinks (soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks) were the main source of calories in the teenage diet (226 calories per day), surpassing pizza (213 calories per day).
Although consumption of sugary drinks in the United States has declined in the past decade,[35] half of the population consumes sugary drinks on a given day; 1 in 4 people gets at least 200 calories from these drinks; and 5% gets at least 567 calories – equivalent to four cans of soda. Intake levels exceed these dietary recommendations to consume no more than 10% of your total daily calories from added sugar.
Globally, and in developing countries in particular, consumption of sugary drinks is rising dramatically due to large-scale urbanization and marketing of beverages.
Reduce sugary drinks
When it comes to our health, it is clear that sugary drinks should be avoided. There is a range of healthy drinks that can be consumed instead, with water being the best option. Of course, if you're addicted to drinking soda frequently, that's easier said than done. If you prefer soft drinks, try sparkling water. If the taste is too lukewarm, try sparkling water with a natural flavor. If that's still too much, add a little juice, citrus slices, or even some fresh herbs. You can do this with homemade teas as well, such as sparkling iced tea with lemon, cucumber and mint.
Work outside the individual level
Reducing our preference for sweet drinks will require concerted action on several levels – from creative food scientists and marketers in the beverage industry, as well as from individual consumers and families, schools and workplaces, state and federal governments. We must work together on this urgent cause: reducing the costs and burden of chronic diseases associated with obesity and diabetes epidemics in the United States and around the world. Fortunately, sugary drinks are a growing topic in political debates at the national and international levels. Learn more about how different stakeholders can take action against sugary drinks.
