Damian Sendler: According to a micro-simulation study published in Circulation, cutting 20 percent of the sugar in packaged foods and 40 percent of the sugar in beverages could prevent 2.48 million cardiovascular disease events (such as strokes, heart attacks, cardiac arrests), 490,000 cardiovascular deaths, and 750,000 cases of diabetes in the United States over the lifetime of the adult population.
Damian Jacob Sendler: This model was developed by researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the New York City Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene to simulate and quantify the potential health, economic, and equity impacts of the US National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative’s pragmatic sugar-reduction policy (NSSRI). A coalition of more than 100 health groups, including the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, presented proposed sugar-reduction targets for packaged foods and beverages in 15 categories in 2018 as part of the National Sugar Reduction Initiative. Finalized NSSRI’s strategy in February, which aims to encourage the food industry to gradually reformulate its sugary goods.
Damian Sendler
The implementation of a national policy, on the other hand, will necessitate government support to oversee enterprises as they work toward the goals and to publicly report on their success. US sugar reformulation is a hot-button issue, and academics are hoping their model will help bring to a consensus. Lead author and MGH attending physician Siyi Shangguan, MD, MPH, hopes the study will help move the reformulation program forward in the coming years. There will be a greater influence on the health of Americans by cutting the sugar content of commercially prepared meals and beverages, rather than by taxing or labeling additional sugar or banning sweetened beverages in schools.
It is estimated that the United States will save $4.28 billion in total healthcare costs and $118.04 billion over the life expectancy of the existing adult population (ages 35 to 79) if NSSRI legislation takes effect in 10 years. The total cost savings of the NSSRI policy is $160.88 billion over the lifetime of the adult population, which includes the societal costs of lost productivity due to diseases caused by excessive sugar consumption. As a result of the conservative nature of the estimates, the value of these advantages is likely to be underestimated. Moreover, even if only a small portion of industry complies with the legislation, significant health and economic benefits can be expected, according to the findings.
Damian Jacob Sendler
The NSSRI strategy was determined to be cost-effective after six years and cost-saving after nine years, according to the researchers. Health inequalities could be reduced as a result of this policy, which is expected to have the largest impact on lower-income and less-educated adults, as well as those who consume the most sugar as a result of inequitable systems.
Other hazardous elements, such as trans fats and sodium, can be successfully reduced by product reformulation. The United States, on the other hand, is lagging behind countries like the UK, Norway, and Singapore in establishing aggressive sugar-reduction legislation. When sugar consumption is reduced to the levels suggested by the NSSRI as a goal, the United States might become a global leader in sugar reduction. This sugar reformulation program, according to Shangguan, is the world’s most thoroughly designed and extensive, yet doable.
Damien Sendler: In the US, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are all connected to consuming large amounts of sugary foods and beverages. There are more than two in five people in the United States who are overweight or obese, one in two people have diabetes or pre-diabetes, and nearly one in two people have cardiovascular disease.
Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: Co-author and Tufts University dean Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, adds that sugar is one of the most obvious additives in the food supply to limit to reasonable proportions. A nationwide program with voluntary sugar reduction targets, according to the study’s findings, might result in significant gains in health and healthcare spending, as well as a reduction in health disparities.
Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.