Researchers map drink consumption around the world

The researchers, in one of the world's most comprehensive studies, have mapped the type and amounts of beverages consumed worldwide. They explain that an important part of the daily caloric and nutritional intake comes from the drinks consumed. The results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Nutrition Society, Nutrition 2019, which was held from June 8 to 11, 2019 in Baltimore.

Paket / Shutterstock

In their study, the team examined drinking habits of 185 countries around the world. The study's lead author, Laura Lara-Castor, a PhD student at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, spoke about her "Global Diet Plan Project." nutritional transitions over time; the effects of these beverages on global health; and a targeted food policy aimed at improving diet and health. "

The team examined the 2015 data by compiling the results of 1,100 surveys conducted by 6.78 billion people worldwide. The surveys focused on various eating and drinking habits.

According to Lara-Castor and his team, some models emerged from their study. She said: "The consumption of sugary drinks and fruit juices was particularly high in Latin America, where sugary and commercial fruit drinks and homemade are widely consumed. Milk consumption was highest in the high-income region (notably Sweden, Iceland and Finland), where dairy farming is more widespread and where consumption of dairy products has traditionally been a major contributor. important of the diet. Urban youth and higher education levels consumed more drinks than anything else, the team noted. The study found that milk consumption was high among those under 12 and over 72 years old.

The results revealed that in Mexico, the consumption of sugary drinks was highest, with an average adult consuming more than 19 ounces or 2.5 cups a day. Suriname and Jamaica come next with an average of about 15 ounces a day. China, Indonesia and Burkina Faso posted the lowest consumption of these drinks. The consumption of fruit juice was highest in countries such as Colombia and the Dominican Republic, between 10 and 11 cups, or 1.4 cup per day. China, Portugal and Japan consumed the lowest amounts of fruit juice, the team said. Countries such as Sweden, Iceland and Finland consume more milk than other countries at an average of 9 or 10 ounces or 1.3 cup per day. China, Togo and Sudan consumed the least milk on average.

The researchers explain that Mexico, with its highest sugary drink intake, is also a place where obesity rates are among the highest. Reports show that more than 70% of the country's population is overweight or obese and that more than 70% of their sugar consumption comes from these sugary drinks, with Coca-Cola being the preferred product. To limit use, the Mexican government has added taxes on sugar. After the first year of this tax, the country's sugar consumption dropped by 5.5%. In the second year after the introduction of taxes, sugar consumption decreased by 9.7%. This study also noted that consumption of sugary drinks and fruit juice was high not only for commercially available packaged drinks, but also for homemade sweetened drinks.

According to Lara-Castor, "For sweetened beverages, fruit juices and milk, these data reflect up-to-date and expanded estimates of the 2010 DAG, while for coffee and tea they are the first global quantitative estimates ever published. . " "These data highlight the gaps in food surveillance, help inform nutritional transitions over time, the effects of these beverages on global health, and targeted dietary policies to improve diets and health."

The team adds that the study had certain limitations. They write that the data on the consumption of drinks only concern certain drinks, over a certain period in the country. Lara-Castor said, "In particular, more data on removals were available in 2015 than in 1990 and relatively few data on removals were available in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. [Nevertheless,] our results represent the best, but still imperfect, data available on overall intake of key foods. She explained, "In our ongoing work, we are updating our research, data collection, and modeling to overcome each of these earlier limitations.

Overall, the study gives a fair idea of ​​what the world is drinking, said Lara-Castor. This could help develop nutrition policies beneficial to public health, she concluded.