The evidence for a role of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the development of obesity and associated comorbidities, although not fully resolved, is becoming increasingly convincing, with supporting data from both prospective cohort studies and randomised trials.
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The obesogenic effect of SSBs seems to be simply a consequence of the excess calories provided by their consumption, rather than of any specific adverse effects of fructose-containing sugars that they contain,
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with no clear evidence that excess energy intake from SSBs is any more harmful than is excess energy intake from any other source.
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However, liquids have a smaller satiating effect than do solid foods, and consequently excess calories consumed in liquid form are not fully compensated for by reduction of intake of other foods.
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Although more evidence is needed to fully elucidate the probable effect size on obesity of reduction of SSB intake at a population level, evidence exists that non-alcoholic beverages contribute a substantial proportion of daily sugar intake (about a quarter of sugar intake in the UK),
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are consumed separately from other dietary components, are of little nutritional benefit, and that alternatives in the form of low-sugar drinks and water are readily available. Thus, to target their reduction represents low-hanging fruit in terms of public health nutritional policy, and debate is ongoing regarding the potential advantages and disadvantages of an increase in taxation on SSBs as a mechanism to reduce intake.
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Published: February 10, 2014
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