We know that consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity. Drinking sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, can lead to increased abdominal fat and can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Health 2020 is a study that was set up in the 1990s to investigate the roles of diet and lifestyle in the development of cancer and other diseases. The study recruited more than 41,000 participants. A recent analysis of Health 2020 data by Associate Professor Allison Hodge and colleagues at Cancer Council Victoria found that there is a link between frequent consumption of sugary soft drinks and cancer that may not be related to body weight. In other words, even if you’re not overweight or obese, drinking sugary drinks may still increase your risk of cancer. The paper drew considerable media attention when published.
Beyond the specific findings of this paper, this work highlights a few additional points:
Principally, it provides yet another reason to cut back on unhealthy sugary drinks and to drink water instead.
Finally, it adds to the evidence backing calls for policy action to help address the growing impact of weight- and diet-related health problems in Australia. Cancer Council Victoria would like to see a systematic approach that includes a levy on sugary drinks. This will enable the government to invest more in public health programs that foster healthier environments. We would also like to see the government support public education campaigns highlighting the health impacts of sugary drinks and move to restrict the marketing and availability of sugary drinks in public places, especially schools, government institutions, children's sports venues and other places frequented by children.
It also provides a good example of the value of long-term cohort studies. Decades after they were collected, Health 2020 data are able to provide new insights into the causes of disease; we are certain that the data we are collecting in the ABC Study will be at least as valuable in the decades to come.
[1] Hodge et al., “Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Soft Drinks and Risk of Obesity-Related Cancers”, Public Health Nutr 2018 Feb 21:1-9.
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