Sugary drinks, heart risk increased linked

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- Over-consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks is being considered as an important cause of increased cardiometabolic risk, a Canadian researcher says.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Despres of the Universite Laval in Quebec, scientific director of the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk, described the link between abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome -- which increases the risk of heart disease -- and cardiometabolic risk.

"We are facing a serious global public health threat caused in part by over-consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages," Despres said in a statement. "Educating people on the link between their beverage consumption habits and their health is an important step toward preventing the rise of chronic diseases."

Despres and leading health and research experts at the American Society for Nutrition's Scientific Sessions and annual meeting at Experimental Biology in Washington, are discussing research that highlights the growing problem of increased consumption of sweetened beverages and its link to negative health.

During the workshop, The Global Beverage Picture: Where is the Science Today as Beverage Consumption Relates to Cardiometabolic Health, experts share research updates including:

-- Beverages contribute substantially to overall diet and calorie intake; American adults consume an average of approximately 400 calories/day as beverages.

-- Soda, energy drinks and sports drinks are major sources of added sugars in American diets, some 36 percent of added sugar intake.

-- To limit excess calories and maintain a healthy weight people are advised to drink more water and less sugary drinks.