Research
Mixed
Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption causes significant health harms, specifically weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, through mechanisms involving liquid calorie non-satiety, high glycemic load, and insulin resistance.
Limit sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Liquid sugar is processed differently than solid sugar, leading to less fullness and higher blood sugar spikes. Even modest reductions in consumption can lower your long-term health risks.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption harms health through three main channels: weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease... Sugary drinks have high 'glycemic loads,' meaning that they contain large amounts of rapidly digestible sugars... Over time, these states of elevated blood glucose and insulin can cause insulin resistance, often a precursor to diabetes
Why this rating
The paper cites meta-analyses of cohort studies and randomized trials, though it notes that correlation does not imply causation and confounders may exist.
Source
Should We Tax Sugar-Sweetened Beverages? An Overview of Theory and Evidence
Hunt Allcott et al. · The Journal of Economic Perspectives · 2019
narrative_reviewCited 236×
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