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Rise in consumption of sugar-laden beverages pose health risk

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By Jund Rian A. Doringo
FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service

Added sugars are caloric sweeteners added to food or beverages during production. Having no nutritional value, added sugars are often referred to as empty calories.

The most popular added sugars are sucrose, most commonly known as table sugar, as well as beets and cane sugars, corn syrup, malt syrup, maple syrup, fruit juice concentrates, and honey, to name a few. Moreover, the most popular types of food containing added sugar are sweetened beverages like juices, fruit juice concentrates and soft drinks.

The Daily Nutritional Guide Pyramid developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) illustrates that sugars and sugar substitutes or alternatives must be consumed in least amounts, as they are near the tip of the pyramid together with fats and oils. However, global data suggests that the increasing consumption of beverages that are sweetened with added sugar is responsible for the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity across population groups.

In a study led by Berkey in 2004 on sugar-added beverages and adolescent weight change, it was found that consumption of beverages that are sweetened with added sugars was associated with body mass index (BMI) gains during the following year. Moreover, consumption of sugar-added beverages may contribute to weight gain among adolescents due to its considerable contribution to total energy intake.

Linardakis in 2008 reported a study on the effects of sugar-added beverages consumption among kindergarten children on their nutrition status and risk of obesity. The study conducted among children in Crete showed that high intake of sugar-added beverages was associated with poor eating habits and inadequate nutrition intake, as well as increased risk for developing childhood obesity.

In the Philippines, the FNRI-DOST in 2012 studied the pattern of beverage consumption across different population groups and examined the association between consumption of selected beverages and nutrition status using data from the 7th Nutritional National Survey (NNS) conducted by the Institute. It was noted that there was high intake of soft drinks and coffee across the Filipino population, and decreased intake of milk throughout childhood to adulthood.

High soft drinks and coffee consumption, or sugar-added beverages can pose a great risk to over-nutrition and obesity, as verified by the previous studies cited earlier about the association of sugar-added beverages and nutritional status.

Awareness on the potential health risk of high intakes of sugar-added beverages can be beneficial to conquer the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the country. With education on recommended amounts of sugars and sugar exchanges through health and nutrition campaigns, the Filipino population can choose healthier food options. Also, policies and regulations on the availability of sugar-added beverages, especially in schools, must be reviewed to help avoid childhood obesity.


For more information on food and nutrition, please contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City; trunkline: 837 2071 local 2296 or 2287; telephone/fax no.: 837 3164, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.
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