Contrary to popular belief, the benefits of physical activity do not outweigh the risks of cardiovascular disease associated with consuming sugary drinks, according to a new study led by the Harvard THChan School of Public Health. Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Laval University, was a co-author.
Sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugars in the North American diet. Its consumption is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the world. " Marketing strategies for these drinks often show active people drinking these drinks. This suggests that consuming sugary drinks does not have negative health effects if you are physically active. Our research aimed to test this hypothesis," he says. Drouin-Chartier. |
For the study, the scientists used two cohorts totaling around 100,000 adults, followed for about 30 years . Data show that those who consumed sugary drinks more than twice a week had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of their physical activity levels.
The study found that even if the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity protects against cardiovascular disease, it is not enough to counteract the adverse effects of sugary drinks. "Physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with sugary drinks by half, but does not eliminate it completely," says Drouin-Chartier.
The frequency of consumption considered in the study (twice a week) is relatively low, but is still significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. With daily consumption, the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases is even higher.
For this reason, Drouin-Chartier emphasizes the importance of addressing the pervasiveness of sugary drinks in the food environment. This category includes soft drinks (with or without caffeine), lemonades, and fruit cocktails. The study didn’t specifically look at energy drinks, but they also tend to be sweetened with sugar.
In the case of artificially sweetened beverages , often presented as an alternative solution to sugar-sweetened beverages, their consumption was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. "Replacing sugary drinks with diet drinks is good because it reduces the amount of sugar. But the best drink option is still water ," explains Drouin-Chartier.
"Our findings provide further support for public health recommendations and policies to limit people’s intake of sugary drinks, as well as to encourage people to achieve and maintain adequate levels of physical activity," added lead author Lorena Pacheco, research scientist at the Department. of Nutrition at the Harvard Chan School.
