Consumption of soft drinks can pose health risks.
Consumption of soft drinks can pose health risks.
The daily consumption of soft drinks by adolescents, including those labeled as zero, diet, or light,
is considered a cardiovascular risk factor
and is associated with overweight, obesity, and hypertension, according to a study conducted at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB).
The results were obtained from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), which involved the analysis
of data from approximately 37,000 Brazilian adolescents, aged between 12 and 17 years, from 1,251 schools in 124 cities across the country.
The researchers investigated the glycemic and lipid profiles of the participants through laboratory diagnoses,
and also performed physical examinations to assess blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and other relevant indicators.
The results revealed that the frequent consumption of industrialized sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, commonly occurs
in the diets of adolescents, and daily servings of 450 ml or more of these beverages may be associated with indicators
of excess weight and hypertension, even in the zero, light, or diet categories.
Soft drinks are known for their high sugar content and empty calories, which means they provide a large
amount of energy but few nutrients.
These liquid calories are less satiating compared to solid calories, which can lead to an overall increase in calorie intake.
Furthermore, diet or light versions of soft drinks often contain significant levels of sodium, which can negatively affect blood pressure.
Nurse Ana Flavia Britto, one of the study's authors, emphasizes the concern that young people are developing
cardiovascular risk factors at an early age, which can have significant long-term impacts due to prolonged exposure to these factors.
Important to Know
Limiting the consumption of soft drinks among adolescents can reduce weight gain and help prevent related diseases, such as
cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Brazil.
The issue of soft drink consumption among young people has become a public health problem, with
worrisome implications for both short-term and long-term health.
Policy measures are being implemented worldwide to address this issue, but changing unhealthy dietary habits
requires a deeper understanding of the multiple factors involved, especially in the context of adolescence.
Data also reveals that soft drinks are the most consumed beverages per capita in Brazil.
According to the Family Budget Survey of 2017/2018, the average consumption of soft drinks in the southern region of the country is twice
that of the North and Northeast regions.
In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the frequency and quantity of soft drink consumption worldwide.
In summary, the daily consumption of soft drinks by adolescents, regardless of their label variations, presents significant risks
to cardiovascular health.
These beverages are associated with problems such as overweight, obesity, and hypertension.
Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness about the negative effects of excessive consumption
of soft drinks and implement measures to reduce
their consumption among adolescents in order to promote healthier eating habits and prevent related diseases.
