What would happen if we drank sugary drinks every day?

This information was given at a workshop providing information to the press about the harmful effects of sugary drinks on health and the role of tax policy in controlling consumption, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications on the morning of April 5 in Hanoi.

Sugary drinks increase diabetes, tooth decay and obesity

At the workshop, Ms. Angela Pratt, Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, said that sugary drinks are all types of drinks containing free sugars, which can be carbonated or non-carbonated soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, flavored water, energy and sports drinks, instant tea, instant coffee and milk with added sugar.

According to Ms. Angela Pratt, WHO recommends that the consumption of free sugars, including any sugar added to food or drinks, should be limited to less than 10% of total energy and ideally less than 5%. Corresponding to about 25 grams per day for an adult (a typical can of Coca Cola will contain about 36 grams of sugar).

Overview of the Workshop. Photo: N.Mai

Notably, Ms. Angela Pratt said, in Vietnam, over the past 10 years, people have been drinking more sugary drinks. On average, Vietnamese people consume one liter of sugary drinks per week.

" Not surprisingly, we have seen a rapid increase in overweight and obesity rates, especially among young people. In cities, more than 1 in 4 adolescents aged 15-19 are overweight or obese ," emphasized the WHO Representative in Vietnam.

Sharing specifically about this issue, Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, said that according to the National Technical Regulations for non-alcoholic beverage products, soft drinks (sugary drinks) are products made from water with substances of natural or synthetic origin, which may include CO2.

According to research, a typical soft drink contains about 35g of sugar and very little other nutrition. Meanwhile, unreasonable use of sugary drinks is identified as the cause of overweight and obesity.

Specifically, increasing or decreasing free sugar consumption (regardless of sugar content) is positively associated with weight change. Increased consumption of sugary drinks increases energy intake (empty calories) leading to overweight and obesity. In addition, sugary drinks also increase the brain's activation response to appetite signals, stimulating more eating and increasing the risk of overweight.

Also according to Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai, increased consumption of sugary drinks (including sugary drinks and 100% fruit juice) >177ml/day for 4 years is associated with a 16% higher risk of diabetes in the next 4 years; increased consumption of artificially sweetened drinks >177ml/day is associated with an 18% higher risk of diabetes.

In addition, global evidence suggests that consuming soft drinks with high sugar and acid content may contribute to poor dental health. Accordingly, all soft drinks tested were erosive to tooth enamel. Soft drinks with high calcium content had a lower erosive potential. Low pH values ​​and high citrate content may cause greater surface enamel loss.

Not only that, sugary drinks are also the "culprit" that increases the risk of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. A study in the US on 106,000 teachers showed that consuming ≥355ml of sugary drinks/day is associated with cardiovascular disease, revascularization, and stroke.

Tax policy needed to curb sugary drinks

Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, presented on the harmful effects of sugary drinks on health. Photo: N.Mai

Around the world, a common approach to reducing the harms from sugary drinks is to raise their prices through taxes, experts say. Price signals – higher costs – are effective in reducing consumption of sugary drinks. In fact, more than 100 countries now have excise taxes on these products.

Evidence shows that if a tax increases the price of drinks by 10%, people will drink about 11% less. They will switch to healthier drinks like water.

In Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen Thuy Duyen, from the University of Public Health, said that a tax on sugary drinks would reduce consumption, thereby reducing sugar consumption. Therefore, this policy could bring about positive changes in the rapidly increasing situation of overweight and obesity in Vietnam.

International experience shows that countries often apply absolute taxes based on sugar content, which have many advantages compared to other types of taxes. This type of tax has a direct impact on products with high sugar content, encouraging consumers to switch to products with less sugar. This solution paves the way for manufacturers to switch to products with less sugar.

Tax increases will impact price increases, thereby affecting consumption behavior, health burdens and socio-economics will change equivalent to the increase in retail prices. If a 5% price increase brings insignificant changes, a 20% price increase can bring positive changes to obesity in Vietnam.

In addition to taxes, experts also recommend that to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, it is necessary to implement a number of synchronous measures such as: nutritional labeling on the front of drinks, limiting advertising, limiting sugary drinks in schools, and educating children and adolescents about healthy nutrition...

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Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/dieu-gi-se-xay-ra-voi-co-the-neu-chung-ta-tieu-thu-do-uong-co-duong-moi-ngay-172240405141448493.htm