Soda and punch almost double risk of diabetes in women

Young and middle-aged women who consume one or more sugar-sweetened drinks (i.e., regular soda, fruit punch, but not fruit juice) per day are almost twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as women (RR 1.83) who consume one or fewer such beverages per month, according to data from the Nurses' Health Study II.

They are also at greater risk of obesity. Researchers found the greatest weight gain over a 4-year period occurred in women who increased their sugar-sweetened drink consumption from one or fewer drinks per week to one or more such drinks per day, while the smallest gains occurred in women who decreased their consumption from one or more drinks per day to one or less per week.

The reason for the weight gain appears related to the fact that increased calories from sugar-sweetened beverages are not fully compensated for by a reduction in intake of calories from solid foods. The study also suggested that such beverages may even stimulate hunger and increase food intake.

Schulze MB, Manson JE, Ludwig DS, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverages, weight gain, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young and middle-aged women. JAMA. 2004;292:927-934.