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Drinking a glass of water a day instead of beer can reduce obesity risk by 20 per cent
But a new study has laid bare their destructive impact by becoming the first to chart its effect on the body.
Spanish researchers followed 15,765 healthy university graduates by monitoring their consumption of a host of common drinks.
Intake of whole milk, reduced-fat milk, skimmed milk, milkshake, wine, beer, spirits, sugar-sweetened soda beverages, diet soda beverages, regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee, fresh orange juice, fresh non-orange fruit juice, bottled juice, tap water and bottled water was assessed from 1999 with information on weight updated every two years.
The study revealed that 873 participants became obese with mathematical modelling showing drinking a glass of water instead of a beer every day reduced the risk of obesity by 20 per cent.
Replacing a sugar-sweetened soft drink with water was associated with a 15 per cent lower risk of developing obesity.
Those who substituted water for beer also saw a slight reduction in average weight of 0.3kg [0.66lbs] over four years. However, researchers found no difference in obesity risk when replacing any of the other beverages with water.
Study leader Dr Ujué Fresán, from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, said: “This study found replacing one sugar-sweetened soda beverage [but not other sugared drinks like fruit juices] or beer with one serving of water a day at the start of the study was related to a lower incidence of obesity and to a higher weight loss over a four-year period in the case of beer.”
Water offers a cheaper and healthier choice for adults and children
The findings, due to be presented today at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto, Portugal, chime with previous studies showing how just one fizzy drink a day was enough to raise the risk of “prediabetes” by almost half with sugary drinks linked to increased insulin resistance, a risk factor for lifestyle-driven Type 2.
Earlier research showed some fruit juice drinks contain the equivalent of five teaspoons of sugar with almost half containing at least a child’s daily recommended maximum intake of 0.7oz [19g].
UK health campaigners were horrified when they measured the quantities in 203 standard-sized branded and supermarket own label products.
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Some fruit juice drinks contain as many as five teaspoons of sugar
In 158 fruit juice drinks studied, average sugar content was 11g per 200ml but rose to 21g in 21 pure fruit juices and 26g in 24 smoothies.
Disturbingly 85 juice drinks – more than 40 per cent of the total sample – contained at least 19g of “free” sugars, or almost five teaspoons.
Professor Simon Capewell, vice president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: “This research further strengthens the scientific evidence.
“The empty calories provided by sugary drinks contribute to obesity which then increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, dementia and common cancers.
“The good news is that water offers a cheaper and healthier choice for adults and children.”
A two-band sugar tax on soft drinks will come into force in April next year aimed at halting the crisis.
It will have two thresholds – at least 18p a litre on drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml [about three teaspoons per 8oz glass] and 24p a litre on those with more than 8g per 100ml [about five teaspoons per 8oz glass].
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Sugary drinks have been shown to increase risk of Type-2 diabetes
Meanwhile, sugary drinks will be outlawed in English hospitals from July 1 next year in a drive to slash obesity, diabetes and tooth decay as figures show more than half NHS England’s 1.3 million staff are overweight or obese <>.
A quarter of all British adults are now overweight or obese, with related ill health costing the NHS £6.1billion a year.
Experts say that if urgent action is not taken to curb rising rates, nearly 60 per cent of men, 50 per cent of women and 25 per cent of children will be obese by 2050.
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