Mexico Leads Latin America for 'Diabetes Deaths Linked to Soft Drinks' ITV
go to original March 20, 2013

Diabetes is now the top killer in Mexico and many health experts blame the nation's soft drink habit. Calls to tax and regulate sweetened beverages are being met by a soda industry that says there's no link between its beverages and obesity. (ReutersTV)

Of nine world regions, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest number of diabetes deaths linked to soft drinks.

East and central Russia had the largest number of heart disease deaths. Mexico, which has one of the highest levels of sugary drink consumption in the world, had the greatest overall death rate.

In Mexico, 318 deaths per million adults each year were associated with sugar-sweetened drink consumption.

Japan, whose population is among those consuming the least sugary drinks, had the lowest death rate - just 10 per million adults.

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism (EPI/NPAM) meeting in New Orleans.

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