Most Americans drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The finding is concerning because sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet.
In addition to causing dental caries and erosion, frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Using data from 2011-2014 National Health Nutrition and Examination Surveys (NHANES), the CDC created two reports detailing how often Americans consume sugary beverages.
Half of adults and two-thirds of kids drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day, according to the report findings. The number of adults who consume sugary drinks daily may be even higher than the NHANES data suggest, since the survey definition of sugar-sweetened beverage doesn't include alcohol, flavored milks, or beverages sweetened by the survey participant.
More findings from the CDC reports are shown in the infographic below.
