Sweetened beverage
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to weight gain and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
[7][8][9][10][11] According to the CDC, consumption of sweetened beverages is also associated with unhealthy behaviors like smoking, not getting enough sleep and exercise, and eating fast food often and not enough fruits regularly.
[12][13] Similar to sugar-sweetened beverages, they are linked to weight gain and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
[10][11][12][14] Humans have been drinking sweet beverages for thousands of years in the form of fruit juice, mead, and sweetened wine.
The increase in consumption of sweetened beverages over the past several decades has been described as a worldwide health problem, but it is particularly visible in the United States, from where many modern drinks, like sodas, have originated.
[8][17][18] [5] They represent about 7% of total energy intake, where they can account for up to 15% in children, and have been described as the "largest single food source of calories in the US diet".
[16] The consumption of sweetened beverages has increased in the US since the 1970s, accounting for a significant portion (perhaps as high as a half) of the rise in caloric intake among the American populace.
[19] According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey found that 30.1% of American adults consume at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily.
Studies were completed with a variety of test subjects to account for age, sex, diets, lifestyle choices, physical activity, smoking, level of education, and health status.
[41] The study examined a sample of 1495 human participants to determine if foods mainly containing sugar cause "addiction-like" problems that meet clinical Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for substance dependence.
The researchers also investigated whether potential dependence on sugar relates to body weight and negative affectivity such as mood depression.
[43] Studies have shown sugar sweetened beverages displace important nutrients such as iron and calcium which result in deficiency-related conditions.
[48] The American Cancer Society and the Public Health Law Center have stated that "Although the federal government and expert panels have deemed some artificial sweeteners safe from a food safety perspective, the science is not conclusive when it comes to other health impacts from drinking artificially sweetened beverages".
[49] In 2023, the World Health Organization published a new guideline on artificial sweeteners advising against their use to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases.
Due to its ability to dissociate the sensation of sweet from caloric intake via hormonal changes, they may increase appetite and promote larger food consumption and weight gain.
Studies have found various negative health outcomes associated with ASBs, including weight gain, obesity and an increased risk of hypertension and type II diabetes.
[52][53][54] Taste preferences and eating behaviors in children are molded at a young age by factors such as parents' habits and advertisements.
[57] The World Health Organization has advised reducing intake of free sugars, such as monosaccharides and disaccharides that are added to beverages by manufacturers, cooks, or consumers.
[59] Global experts in fiscal policies concluded that a minimum of 20% increase in sugar-sweetened beverage taxes would result in proportional reduction in consumption.
[60] Other solutions target children, focusing on prohibiting sugar-sweetened beverages on school/after care property, including vending machines and lunches.
[63] Around the United States, sugar-sweetened beverage intake differs based on geographic regions and socio-demographic characteristics.
[8] Numerous states, including Vermont, have proposed taxing sugar-sweetened beverages or increasing the prices to reduce consumption.
[61] Healthy schools campaign is an initiative set forth by Michelle Obama that promotes nutritional enrichment through food an education.
