Your Health Saudi Magazine مجلة دليلك الصحي Oct 2013 | Page 34

Earlier studies show drinking sugarsweetened beverages increases the risk
of chronic diseases such as diabetes,
heart disease and cancer, and the new
study provides an estimate just how
big this problem is, the researchers
said.
"Our findings should push policy
makers world-wide to make effective
policies to reduce consumption of
sugary beverages, such as taxation,
mass-media campaigns, and reducing
availability of these drinks," said
study researcher Gitanjali M. Singh,
a postdoctoral research fellow at the
Harvard School of Public Health in
Boston, Mass.
How did the Harvard scientists single
out that sweet drinks were linked to
weight gain and death? They spent
several years gathering and combing
through data. They looked at all kinds
of factors that can affect our weight
such as TV watching, changes in
physical activity levels, smoking and
the consumption of all kinds of food
and drink
Experts cautioned the study found
only an association, and cannot
prove that sugar-sweetened beverage
consumption caused these deaths.
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)
are often just part of a bad diet that
contributes to poor health.
"Diets with more calories from SSBs
are poorer diets overall," said Dr.
David Katz, director of the Prevention
34 |YOUR HEALTH MAGAZINE OCT. 2013