When it comes to sugary beverages, a new study has revealed that not only those who are overweight are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In a new report by Health Day, "this new study removed weight as a factor, and still found that every daily serving of sugar-sweetened beverages increases any person's risk of type 2 diabetes by 13 percent over 10 years."
This offers a different perspective from the earlier association of sugary drinks with weight gain; the increase in body fat contributes to insulin resistance, that could increase risk of diabetes. The site shared that type 2 diabetes affects the body's ability to convert sugar into energy. Currently, about 29 million Americans have diabetes -- usually type 2 -- and according to experts, more remain diagnosed.
According to lead author Fumiaki Imamura, a senior investigator with the MRC Epidemiology Unit at University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine in England, "Our body is able to handle it, but cumulative effects over time exhaust the body's functions and lead to the onset of diabetes."
Researchers from the University analyzed 17 studies in the area and observed a pattern of diabetes risk that was unrelated to weight. "Our study suggests that if everyone reduces soft sugary drinks, everyone gets the benefit," quoted BBC of the expert.
It should be noted that the study, which was published in the British Medical Journal, released observational results and definitive cause and effect conclusions cannot be drawn as of now.
"It is important to stress that this study does not prove a cause-effect relationship and there are no trials as yet showing that reducing sugar-sweetened beverages decreases the incidence of type 2 diabetes," quoted BBC of Prof. Tom Sanders, a former professor of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London.
He emphasized that age, obesity, as well as physical inactivity remain to be the main risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. However, he does acknowledge that evidence does support the idea that to prevent the disease, an active lifestyle and healthy weight is necessary and restricting intake of sugary drinks is part of that balance.
Health professionals have advised that people limit their consumption of sugary beverages given the strong evidence that a healthy diet plays a major role in prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.
