A study tracking nearly 26,000 people for up to 25 years suggests regular consumption of sugary drinks from childhood into early adulthood may raise the risk of high blood pressure later in life.
Researchers have found that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages regularly from childhood into early adulthood may raise the risk of hypertension later in life, adding to a growing body of evidence that habits formed in the early years can have lasting consequences. The findings come from a long-running analysis of nearly 26,000 young people and reinforce public health advice to cut back on sugary drinks early.
The study drew on data from the Growing Up Today Study, which followed 25,749 children and teenagers whose average age at the start was about 12. Over as long as 25 years of follow-up, participants reported their diets and health at intervals, and 1,625 developed high blood pressure during that period, according to the researchers.
The clearest pattern appeared among those with the highest intake of sugary drinks. People who consumed at least two servings a day had a 52% higher risk of hypertension than those who drank fewer than three servings a week. That association remained even after researchers accounted for body mass index, overall diet quality and physical activity, suggesting the link was not explained simply by weight or other lifestyle factors.
The analysis also pointed to differences between whole fruit and fruit juice. Eating whole fruit did not show the same risk pattern, but higher fruit juice intake was tied to a greater likelihood of high blood pressure. Researchers suggested the difference may reflect the form in which sugar is consumed: sugary drinks and juice contain free sugars in a more concentrated form, while whole fruit also provides fibre and other nutrients that may blunt metabolic effects.
The findings, which have been discussed in medical and public health coverage including JAMA, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the American College of Cardiology, fit with wider guidance urging families to limit sugary drinks during childhood. Some researchers involved in the work have said that replacing one daily sugary drink with water, milk or whole fruit may help lower later blood pressure risk, although they caution that long-term dietary patterns matter most.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
