How climate change is making people unhealthy

Drinks with sugar are often cheaper and more readily available than healthier chilled options. [Courtesy]

A study published in Nature Climate Change shows that higher temperatures are driving people to consume sweeter drinks and frozen desserts. Researchers led by Dr Pan He of Cardiff University, working with the University of Southampton, analysed data from between 40,000 and 60,000 US households over 15 years, spanning from 2004 to 2019.

The findings reveal that when monthly average temperatures rise from around 12°C to 30°C, added sugar intake increases by about 0.70 grams per degree Celsius. The study highlights that the rise is mainly from sugar-sweetened beverages and frozen desserts like sodas or fruit-drinks with added sugar.