New Global Study Shows Consumption of Soft Drinks is Positively Associated with the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adolescents
A new global study (one of the largest of its kind) by researchers from the Wolfson Institute, Queen Mary University of London and published today in the JAMA Network Open has found that the prevalence of daily soft drink consumption amongst school-going adolescents was positively associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity. This research reinforces the need for effective strategies such as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to be used to reduce the consumption of soft drinks, says Action on Sugar.
The study, which analysed data from three cross-sectional studies involving 107 countries and 405,528 adolescents, revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity varied among countries, ranging from 3.3% to 64.0% while the prevalence of daily soft drink consumption ranged from 3.3% to 79.6%.
There was a positive correlation between the prevalence of daily soft drink consumption and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. The consumption of soft drinks contributed to around 12% of the variations in overweight and obesity rates among adolescents across different countries. The analysis using individual-level data also showed a statistically significant association between daily soft drink consumption and overweight and obesity among school-going adolescents.
These findings contribute to the understanding of the relationship between soft drink consumption and overweight and obesity, highlighting the need for action to reduce soft drink consumption and combat adolescent overweight and obesity.
Lead author of the study, Dr Huan Hu, Researcher at National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, Japan said: ‘Reducing soft drink consumption is crucial for combating adolescent overweight and obesity. Our study, encompassing data from 107 countries and regions, reveals a significant positive association between daily soft drink consumption and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents. To address this pressing issue, urgent actions should be employed to curb the consumption of sugary drinks."
Professor Graham MacGregor, co-author of the study and Chair of Action on Sugar added: “When it comes to tackling childhood obesity our current Government has wasted time and cost lives - with only one action, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, being successful. This one simple and practical approach could easily be implemented by the entire food and drink industry and would benefit the worst off in our society and save the NHS billions of pounds each year.”
Dr Kawther Hashem, Campaign Lead for Action on Sugar explains: “The UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy has been remarkable and unique in encouraging reformulation and has already resulted in removing 46,000 tonnes of sugar from soft drinks between 2015 and 2020 and raised £334m in 2021-22 alone – all of which was invested in children’s health and wellbeing programmes. The same could be achieved either by mandatory targets or by creating a levy to reduce excess calories (whilst not exceeding salt or sugar), but we need a firm commitment from the Government first.”
ENDS
National PR – David Clarke: M: 07773 225516
Website www.actiononsugar.org
Notes to editors:
About Action on Sugar
Action on Sugar is a group of experts concerned with sugar and obesity and its effects on health. It is working to reach a consensus with the food industry and Government over the harmful effects of a high calorie diet, and bring about a reduction in the amount of sugar and fat in processed foods to prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay.
