Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Obesity Risk: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Obesity remains one of the most urgent global public health challenges, with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption identified as a major modifiable risk factor. Beverages such as sodas, sweetened juices, teas, and energy drinks provide high caloric intake with minimal nutritional value, contributing to weight gain and metabolic disturbances. This narrative review synthesizes recent scientific evidence on the association between SSB consumption and obesity risk, and identifies key sociodemographic determinants and public health policy implications.

Methods: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the keywords “sugar-sweetened beverages,” “obesity,” and “overweight.” From a total of 21,892 records identified (2020–2025), eight cross-sectional and epidemiological studies were included based on relevance and publication quality.

Results: Eight studies from diverse countries (United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia) consistently demonstrated a positive association between SSB intake and increased body mass index (BMI), abdominal adiposity, and overall obesity prevalence. Among children and adolescents, consuming more than 25 g of sugar per day increased the likelihood of overweight/obesity by 39%. In adults, daily SSB consumption was associated with a 1.5- to 4.5-fold higher risk of obesity. The principal biological mechanisms include enhanced hepatic lipogenesis, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation induced by excessive fructose intake. Sociodemographic factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, culture, and lifestyle behaviors further modulate this relationship.

Conclusion: Excessive SSB consumption is a major contributor to the global obesity epidemic through intertwined metabolic and behavioral mechanisms. Effective prevention requires multidimensional strategies encompassing fiscal policies, product reformulation, nutrition education, and promotion of healthier beverage alternatives to reduce obesity and noncommunicable disease burdens worldwide.

Keywords: Added Sugars, Obesity, Public Health Policy, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages