A recent study has revealed the dangerous global health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages. Studies estimate that sugary drinks contribute to 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease each year worldwide.

The findings, drawn from 184 countries and published in Nature Medicine by researchers at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, are particularly worrying for developing regions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 21% of new diabetes cases were linked to consumption of sugary drinks. In Latin America and the Caribbean, these beverages were responsible for nearly 24% of new diabetes cases and more than 11% of new heart disease cases.

Countries like Colombia, Mexico and South Africa have been most affected. In Colombia, more than 48% of new diabetes cases were linked to sugary drinks, while about one-third of Mexico’s diabetes cases had the same link.

In South Africa, sugary beverages were responsible for 27.6% of new diabetes cases and 14.6% of heart disease cases.

Sugary drinks are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a sharp increase in blood sugar levels without providing essential nutrients. Long-term consumption contributes to weight gain, insulin resistance and metabolic disorders, increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease – the two leading global causes of death.

Dariush Mozaffarian, senior author of the study and director of the Food Is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, emphasized the vulnerability of low- and middle-income countries. “Not only are these communities consuming harmful products heavily marketed to them, but they are also less equipped to handle the long-term health consequences,” she said.

The study also showed that men and young adults were more likely to experience health effects from sugary beverage consumption than women and older adults.

Laura Lara-Castor, the study’s first author, stressed the need for urgent global action. “We need urgent, evidence-based interventions to curb the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages before diabetes and heart disease affect more lives,” he said.

The researchers recommend a multi-pronged approach, including public health campaigns, strict advertising regulations and sugar taxes.

Countries such as Mexico have already implemented taxes on sugary beverages, which have shown promising results in reducing consumption, especially among low-income groups.

“Much more needs to be done,” Mozaffarian said, “especially in regions like Latin America and Africa, where sugary drink consumption is dangerously high.”

The study highlights the urgent need for teamwork around the world to address the growing health problems caused by sugary beverages.