Daily Soft Drink Consumption May Be a Major Contributor to Obesity Among Young People: Study

ISLAMABAD: Daily consumption of sugary soft drinks may be contributing significantly to rising rates of overweight and obesity among young people worldwide, according to a new study.

Obesity is becoming increasingly common around the world and is associated with a higher risk of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and certain cancers. While excessive food consumption is often considered a major cause of weight gain, researchers say sugary beverages may also play an important role.

A study by Japan’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health examined the relationship between soft drink consumption and obesity among more than 400,000 students from 107 countries and regions.

The researchers found that obesity was becoming increasingly common among young people worldwide and that frequent consumption of sugary beverages was associated with a higher likelihood of obesity.

According to the study, consuming sugary drinks once or more every day was linked with a significantly increased risk of obesity.

The researchers noted that previous clinical trials and studies had also reported a relationship between sugary beverage consumption and weight gain, while their findings provide further support for this evidence.

They emphasized that reducing soft drink consumption among young people could be an important step toward tackling the growing global obesity problem.

The study was published in JAMA Open Network.

Earlier Research Also Linked Soft Drinks to Weight Gain

Previous research conducted jointly by Harvard University in the United States and the University of Toronto in Canada in March 2023 also found an association between sugary beverages, including soda, and increased body weight.

Researchers analyzed data from dozens of studies conducted over the previous decade and found a consistent relationship between consumption of sugary drinks and obesity.

The findings indicated that drinking an additional soda each day was associated with weight gain. Researchers estimated that consuming just one extra soda daily could result in approximately half a kilogram of additional body weight over a year.

Although such an increase may appear small initially, researchers warned that gradual weight gain can become substantial over time.

They therefore recommended reducing the consumption of sugary beverages as much as possible.

The earlier study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.