Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was linked to over 3 million new diabetes and heart disease cases globally in 2020, with the highest burdens in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. Younger, urban, and more educated adults were most affected, highlighting urgent need for targeted prevention and policy action.
December 2024 – Aging
Key takeaways
- Rising global health burden from SSBs: In 2020, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contributed to 2.2 million new type 2 diabetes cases and 1.2 million new cardiovascular disease cases globally. This represented nearly 10% of new diabetes and 3% of heart disease diagnoses, emphasising the significant role of SSBs in today’s chronic disease landscape
- Disproportionate impact on younger, urban adults: SSB-related disease rates were highest among younger adults, particularly those aged 25–29, and those living in urban areas. This reflects both higher consumption patterns and early onset risks, stressing the importance of focusing preventative efforts on young, city-dwelling populations to mitigate long-term health consequences
- Sub-Saharan Africa faces steepest rise: Between 1990 and 2020, sub-Saharan Africa experienced the largest increase in SSB-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease cases. The shift from traditional diets to processed foods and beverages, coupled with limited policy interventions, has made the region especially vulnerable to the negative health effects of sugary drinks
- Education alone doesn’t reduce risk: Paradoxically, higher-educated adults in many regions—including Latin America, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa—had higher SSB-attributable disease burdens. This suggests that education alone may not protect against unhealthy beverage choices and reinforces the need for public health strategies like taxation, marketing restrictions, and better access to clean water
Read the article at: Lara-Castor, Laura, et al. Burdens of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Attributable to Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in 184 Countries. Nature Medicine, vol. 31, 2025, pp. 552–564. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03345-4.