UK teenagers consume sugary drinks equivalent of a bathtub on average in a year: Study

Teenagers in the UK consumed sugary drinks equivalent of nearly a bathtub on average in a year, Cancer Research UK reported.

According to the research, children aged between 11 and 18 consumed three times more the recommended limit of sugar intake.

Sugary drinks had become their main source of added sugar, comprising 30 per cent of  their total intake, according to the researchers.

"It's shocking that teenagers are drinking the equivalent of a bathtub of sugary drinks a year," said Alison Cox, director at Cancer Research UK - charity research organisation in  the UK, IANS reported.

Earlier studies had shown that consumption of sugary drinks resulted in greater weight gain as also increased body mass index (BMI) - a risk factor for many diseases, such as diabetes and various forms of cancers.

The researchers suggest that the increased consumption be minimised by imposing food taxes.

"We urgently need to stop this happening and the good news is that the sugar tax will play a crucial role in helping to curb this behaviour," Dr Cox said.

According to the study, a 20 per cent excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could prevent 3.7 million people from becoming obese by 2025.
 
Adults and young children consumed twice the maximum recommended amount of added sugar. 

The report added that teenagers ate and drank three times the recommended limit, with sugary drinks being their main source of added sugar, according to the report by Cancer Research UK. 

Obese children were around five times more likely to grow into obese adults, and carrying too much weight increased the risk of cancer as also other diseases. 
 
"The ripple effect of a small tax on sugary drinks is enormous, and it will give soft drinks companies a clear incentive to reduce the amount of sugar in drinks," Cox said, PTI reported.