Facts on Health Risks of Sugar Drinks

• The preponderance of scientific evidence shows that consumption of sugar drinks promotes weight gain.1 • Beverages contribute to weight gain more than solid foods, because the body doesn’t compensate fully for beverage calories by reducing calorie intake later in the day.2 • An extra soft drink a day increases a child’s risk of becoming obese by about 60 percent.3 • Adults who drink one sugar drink or more per day are 27 percent more likely to be overweight or obese than non-drinkers, regardless of income or ethnicity.4 • Obesity-related health care costs $190 billion annually, representing five to ten percent of all medical spending. Over 25 percent of these costs are paid through public expenditures.5,6 • The medical costs for people who are obese are dramatically higher ($2,741 per year) than those of normal weight.7 Diabetes • People who consume sugar drinks regularly—one to two cans a day or more—have a 26 percent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who rarely consume such drinks.8 The risks are even greater for young adults and Asians.9 • Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S.10 • Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke.11 • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, costs from diabetes totaled $245 billion in 2012, with direct medical costs totaling $176 billion.12 Related Disease: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) • After six months, daily consumption of sugar drinks increases fat deposits in the liver by 150 percent, which directly contributes to both diabetes and heart disease.13 Tooth Decay • Consumption of sugar drinks—especially more acidic carbonated drinks—promotes dental caries and erosion.14,15,16,17,18 • Soda consumption nearly doubles the risk of dental caries in children19 and increases the likelihood of cavities in adults.20 Untreated caries can lead to pain, infection, and tooth loss.2