March 4. World Obesity Day
GAZETTE
4,3 MILLION CASES OF EXCESS WEIGHT AND OBESITY ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CONSUMPTION OF SUGARY DRINKS
A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 4 COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN WARNS THAT THE CONSUMPTION OF SUGARY DRINKS IS ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT. IT ALSO NOTES THAT U$D 2.000 MILLION ARE SPENT ON TREATING THE DISEASES DERIVED FROM SUCH INGESTION.
En Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago’s most emblematic landmarks, the best before date of soft drinks, juices, flavored waters and others sugary drinks cause per year 4,3 million cases of excess weight in girls, boys, adolescents and adults, and 2,2 million cases of type 2 diabetes (19%) in adult life according to a new study published in the scientific journal BMJ Open (see here) and conducted by a research team from the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS) of Argentina, an organization with 20 years of experience in health research that is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires.
This is the first study that analyzed the consumption of sugary drinks in Latin America and the Caribbean with a model that allows estimating numbers of diseases and costs attributable to the consumption of these beverages.
The Consumption figures are high in the four countries studied, although they show some heterogeneity. In Argentina consumption average in adults is close to 85 liters per year, being even higher in girls, boys and adolescents, who consume more than one glass per day. In that same country, the number of cases of overweight and obesity attributable to sugary drinks is close to 1.300.000 in all ages (girls, boys, adolescents and adults).
En Brazil, daily consumption in adult life is 61 liters per year, being almost double in childhood. The number of cases of overweight and obesity attributable to these drinks is more than 2.900.000 cases. For its part, El Salvador Street recorded an average consumption of 60 liters, with 116.000 attributable cases, with consumption in childhood and adolescence exceeding one glass per day.
Trinidad and Tobago has a higher average relative consumption in adults, being 99 liters annual (similar to consumption in childhood and adolescence); 26.500 cases of obesity and overweight can be attributed to the consumption of these drinks.
The research team also calculated that, in the four countries analyzed, consumption of sugary drinks was associated with 18.000 deaths and seven million disease events. This included 1,5 million cases of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence (12% of cases of excess weight) and 2,8 million cases in adults (2,8%); 2,2 million cases of type 2 diabetes (19%); 200,000 cases of heart disease (3,8%); 124.000 strokes (3,9%); 116.000 cases of musculoskeletal disease (0,2%); 102,000 cases of kidney disease (0,9%); and 45.000 asthma episodes (0,4%).
The model developed, which was based on a review of the scientific literature on the effects of drinking sugary drinks and on real data on consumption and disease burden in different countries, also estimated that the costs The direct costs of treating overweight and obesity attributable to these drinks are around US$98 million annually: US$ 18 million in girls, boys and adolescents and US$ 81 million in adults. The costs rise to about U.S. $ 2.000 millones When all events are considered associated diseases in adulthood.
Sugary drinks are high in calories, low in nutritional value and the main source of added sugars in the diet. Its consumption has important adverse consequences for health, both dependent and independent of excess weight.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that overweight and obesity represent a critical determinant of the frequency of other diseases. Reducing the consumption of sugary drinks will reduce obesity and also the risk of related diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, joint problems, asthma, depression, social isolation and tooth decay,” points out the Dr. Andrea Alcaraz, coordinator of Health Technology Assessment at the IECS.
According to Alcaraz, the results "allow dimension the health and economic consequences of consuming these types of drinks” y “are a strong incentive for adopt policies that reduce consumption of these drinks, including regulation of advertising, increased taxes (such as those applied in Mexico) and front labeling. It is necessary to act as soon as possible.”
“This study can make a valuable contribution to draw the attention of the population and decision makers regarding this important public health problem, as well as can provide support for policy interventions that many countries are struggling to implement,” the researchers concluded.
The authors of the work are: Andrea Alcaraz, Ariel Bardach, Natalia Espinola, Lucas Perelli, Federico Cairoli, Darío Balán, Alfredo Palacios, Federico Augustovski and Andrés Pichon Riviere for the IECS. This Argentine team was accompanied by professionals from ACT Health Promotion from Brazil; from the Catholic University of El Salvador; from the University of the West Indies of Trinidad and Tobago and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
ABOUT IECS: The IECS is an independent, non-profit academic institution dedicated to research, education and technical cooperation in health. Founded in 2002, it is an institution affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) that houses a CONICET executing unit, a WHO Collaborating center and a Cochrane Center. The mission of the IECS is “to contribute to improving global health, generating and promoting the application of the best scientific evidence.”
IECS PRESS CONTACT:
Lic. Mariana Comolli, Coordinator of the Communication Unit.
Tel.: (011) 4777-8767 ext. 133. mcomolli@iecs.org.ar