New data analysis highlights link between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of cardiovascular disease

“This review of studies is extremely comprehensive and there is no reason to believe that its conclusions do not apply to the situation in the UK” said Professor Nick Finer, honorary professor at the Department of Medicine, University College London. “It confirms what we see with our patients on a daily basis - the link between excess weight, a poor diet containing excessive sugary drinks, and cardiovascular diseaseDisease of the heart and blood vessels, usually due to atherosclerosis.. Of course the links between diet, obesityExcess accumulation of fat in the body. and disease are complex but especially for children, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is un-neccessary and exposes them to health risks.”

Professor Avijit Lahiri says: "We only ignore this warning at serious risk to the community. There are 196 million diabetics in the world, in 2020 there will be 400 million! 70-80% will die a premature 'cardiacRelating to the heart' death. The commonest cause of death in the World will be due coronaryRelating to the arteries supplying the heart itself. heart disease fuelled by Metabolic Syndrome, diabetesA disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, or because the tissues are resistant to the effects. and obesity combination. Obesity and hyperlipaedimia is also increasing in children and this will lead to development of early T2 diabetes.

Governments all over the world should focus on low sugar containing, low fatOne of the three main food constituents (with carbohydrate and protein), and the main form in which energy is stored in the body. healthier food. Many of these 'developing' countries saw increased mortality from child birth, infections, starvation and war; this will change to mortality from coronary heart disease driven by diabetes and metabolic syndromeThe combination of insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and disordered blood lipids that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. in the next decade. I therefore support the data presented, and I am of the opinion that these high risk individuals should be screened early for silent coronary atherosclerosisDisease leading to fatty deposits in the inner walls of the arteries, which reduce and may eventually obstruct blood flow. and vascular disease."