How sugary drinks affect children's health - a study
A large-scale study found that regular consumption of sugary drinks and fruit juices in childhood is associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension in adulthood. Consumption of whole fruits showed no such association. Researchers evaluated data from 25,749 participants, following them from childhood to an average age of 36.
A large-scale study published in the journal Circulation found that regular consumption of sugary drinks and fruit juices in childhood is associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension in adulthood. The study involved 25,749 people followed from 1996–2004 until 2021. The average age of participants at the start was 12, and by the end of follow-up, 36. Consuming at least two servings of sugary drinks (about 355 ml each) per day increased the risk of hypertension by 52% compared to those who drank them less than three times a week. Each additional daily serving of soda was associated with a 23% increase in risk, and of sports drinks, 36%. Consuming at least 1.5 servings of fruit juice (about 237 ml) per day increased the risk by 35%. Unlike drinks, whole fruits did not increase the risk of hypertension. Replacing sugary drinks or juices with fruits could reduce the risk by 22%. The authors emphasize that the findings are based on statistical models, not an experiment. Lead author Vasanti Malik advises limiting sugary drinks, consuming juices in moderation, and preferring whole fruits.