Sugary drinks in the diet blamed for many deaths

Scientists are claiming that almost 200,000 adult deaths are being caused each year by sugary soft drinks, with those under the age of 45 years being at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and becoming obese, conditions which can greatly increase the risk of premature death.
The study, undertaken by researchers from American and British universities, looked at diet information taken from across the globe in order to assess the impact that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) had on deaths.
It was the first full assessment into deaths around the world caused by SSBs, which are defined as fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, sweetened fizzy drinks and iced teas, and homemade sugary drinks, but pure fruit juice was excluded from the study.
The majority of the deaths are caused by diabetes, with approximately 133,000 of the 184,000 deaths recorded being due to diabetes. Heart disease was attributed to the deaths of an estimated 45,000, whilst cancer caused the deaths of 6,450 people.
The US has the most deaths each year, with 25,347, whilst Mexico has the highest death rate, with 404.5 deaths for every million adults. The majority of deaths were adults between 20 and 44 years, from countries with low-to-middle incomes.
Dr Dariush Mozaffarian, senior author, said: “There are no health benefits from sugar-sweetened beverages, and the potential impact of reducing consumption is saving tens of thousands of deaths each year.”
The paper said: “[There is a] need for population based efforts to reduce SSB consumption throughout the world through effective health policies and targeted interventions directed at stemming obesity-related disease.”