Study Finds Global Warming is Driving Americans to Eat More Sugar

Are we eating more sugar thanks to the impacts of global warming? A recent study is pointing in that direction. Here is a look at how a warming planet could be making you reach for the sugar.

Americans Reaching for More Sugar as Mercury Soars

Researchers have found that Americans may be turning to sugar more as the world gets hotter. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, was conducted by a team of scientists in the U.S. and the U.K. The results painted an alarming picture, reporting that Americans are eating more than 100 million pounds of added sugar in a year when compared to 15 years earlier. Subjects with less money and education saw the greatest increase in sugar consumption.

The study's co-author said that climate change is influencing how people eat, potentially impacting overall health. The bulk of the additional sugar is coming from sweetened beverages. The rising temperatures tend to make people reach for these drinks with greater frequency.

The researchers found that the consumption of sugar jumped as temperatures increased between 54 and 86 degrees. The more that the temperature inched up, the more sugar was consumed. This upward trajectory continued up to the 86-degree mark. This was the average temperature when appetites began to decrease because of the heat.

While a little bit of added sugar every day may seem inconsequential, it is important to realize that these impacts add up over time. Just one additional can of sugary soft drink every day raises the risk of diabetes in an average person by 29%. Furthermore, medical professionals say that thirst related to the temperatures is adding to the country's growing obesity epidemic.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature in the U.S. has increased by about 2.2 degrees since 1895. The researchers used the recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) to track the impact of temperatures on sugar consumption. The AHA recommends that adult men limit sugar intake to 36 grams. Adult women are advised to stay under 25 grams of sugar or less.

The researchers then compared data about winds, precipitation levels, and humidity records to the purchase records of up to 60,000 American households from 2004 to 2019. The study specifically did not track data after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They then looked at the nutritional data of the purchased items. All of the information taken together allowed the scientists to eliminate other factors in order to make a causal link between the weather and sugar consumption.

One of the researchers said that they considered launching the study when noticing that Americans have a habit of reaching for sugary soda during times of thirst. As the planet continues to warm incrementally, it is easy to see how sugar consumption is also on the upswing.

Diving Into the Findings of the Study

On a deeper level, the study found that men consumed a greater abundance of sugary soft drinks. The amount of added sugar taken in during times of hot weather was noticeably higher for low-income families when compared to the wealthiest demographics.

Not surprisingly, Americans who work outside are more likely to consume sugary drinks when compared to workers with inside jobs. The odds of reaching for sugar were also higher when the head of the household was less educated. White Americans had the highest added sugar data. Conversely, Asian Americans demonstrated no meaningful change in sugar consumption when the temperatures climbed.

The study's authors pointed out that sugary drinks are priced and marketed in a manner designed to attract poorer populations. Poor Americans are also less likely to enjoy air conditioning during the summer, making them more susceptible to reaching for a sugary drink for relief.

Experts caution that it is troubling that the rate of impact is wider in poor households or those with lower education levels. These populations are inherently more likely to be less healthy overall, meaning that the additional sugar will serve to amplify these health concerns.

The researchers warn that the trend is concerning, as the amount of sugar is likely to continue to increase as temperatures respond to climate change. Recognizing this trend is the first step in taking steps to address it.

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