Soda’s Hidden Toll: 330,000 Deaths a Year - AI Podcast

Story at-a-glance Sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to 338,240 deaths annually and contributed to 2.2 million new Type 2 diabetes cases in 2020, representing about 1 in 10 cases globally Sugary drinks cost the world 12.5 million healthy years of life in 2020 and are associated with 1.2 million new cardiovascular disease cases, or about 1 in 30 cases Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa face the highest health impacts, with some countries attributing nearly half of new diabetes cases to sugary drinks Young adults aged 25 to 29 are particularly vulnerable, with 15.6% of their Type 2 diabetes cases linked to sugar-sweetened beverages due to higher consumption rates Unlike natural sugars in fruits that come with fiber and nutrients, added sugars in beverages offer no nutritional benefits and significantly increase health risks