A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine reveals that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) cause approximately 340,000 deaths annually from Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease worldwide.

The research, conducted by Tufts University's School of Nutrition Science and Policy, analyzed data from 184 countries over three decades. In 2020 alone, SSBs were associated with 2.2 million new Type 2 diabetes cases and 1.2 million cardiovascular disease cases, with developing regions bearing the heaviest burden.

Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America show particularly alarming trends. SSBs account for over 20% of new diabetes cases in Sub-Saharan Africa and nearly 24% in Latin America and the Caribbean. The impact is most severe in countries like Colombia, where sugary drinks are linked to 48% of new diabetes cases and 23% of cardiovascular disease cases.

Dariush Mozaffarian, the study's senior author, highlights how SSBs are aggressively marketed in low- and middle-income nations, where healthcare systems are often ill-equipped to handle the resulting health crisis. Young men appear especially vulnerable to these health impacts.

The researchers advocate for immediate action, including public health campaigns, advertising regulations, and taxation of sugary drinks. Some countries, like Mexico, have already implemented such measures.

In Africa, Nigeria stands out as the continent's largest soft drink consumer, with an annual consumption of 40 million litres. The country ranks fourth globally in soft drink consumption, following the United States, China, and Mexico. In response, Nigeria introduced a N10 per litre tax on sweetened drinks in 2021, with potential plans to double this rate.

SSBs include any liquid containing natural or added sweeteners, from soft drinks and juices to sweetened coffee, tea, energy drinks, and flavored dairy products. The study's findings underscore the urgent need for global intervention to address this growing public health crisis.