KO for sugary drinks? report asks

Sugar is taking its toll on the health of people and escalating health costs, according to a new report.

The report says that the high consumption of sugary drinks has contributed to millions of people worldwide being affected by type II diabetes or obesity, costing the global healthcare system billions of dollars every year.

The Credit Suisse Research Institute's study, Sugar: Consumption at a crossroads, found that almost 90% of general practitioners surveyed in the US, Europe and Asia believe excess sugar consumption is linked to the sharp growth in these health problems.

Commenting on the report, the Chief Executive of the Public Health Association of Australia, Mr Michael Moore, said: “ … people don’t understand that when they or their child drink one glass of sugary soft drink, it would be equivalent to watching your child put six scoops of sugar in a cup of tea, which none of us would tolerate”.

Credit Suisse expects companies in the beverage industry "to react to the growing public concern and the threat of taxes on sugary drinks by moving as fast as they can to self-regulate".

The report found that Australia is the fourth biggest consumer of sugar and caloric sweeteners, behind the US, Brazil and Argentina. (Australia is also the world’s third-largest raw sugar supplier.)

Members are encouraged to discuss the dental health implications of high sugar consumption with patients as appropriate when discussing patient histories and examination observations.