It is important to note that this is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause, only correlation.
And given that most participants were white women, the findings may not be applicable to men or other racial/ethnic groups, acknowledged the researchers.
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Nevertheless, they pointed out that there are some biologically plausible explanations for their findings: sugar-sweetened drinks suppress feelings of satiety, risking excess energy intake and associated weight gain.
These drinks also prompt a rapid rise in blood glucose and insulin secretion, which, over the long term, can induce insulin resistance, inflammation, obesity and type 2 diabetes, they added.
Source: Daily Express
