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Climate change isn't just raising temperatures in the United States, it also appears to be fueling our appetite for sweets. Research published in Nature Climate Change reveals that as temperatures rise, Americans—especially those in the poorest and least educated groups—are consuming more sugary drinks and frozen desserts.
The study, conducted by researchers in the United States and the United Kingdom, analyzed shopping records from 40,000 to 60,000 American households between 2004 and 2019, comparing them with weather data. The finding was clear: when temperatures range between 12°C and 30°C (54°F to 86°F), daily sugar intake increases by about 0.4 grams per degree Fahrenheit.
That's equivalent to more than 100 million pounds (358 million kilos) of extra sugar per year compared to 15 years ago. While the additional daily amount isn't equivalent to the amount of a chocolate bar, the cumulative effect worries experts.
Impact on health and social inequalities
Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco, noted that just one sugary soda a day raises the risk of diabetes by 29 percent, and warned that heat is a major driver of the U.S. obesity epidemic.
The study also highlights that sugar consumption in hot climates affects men, low-income families, people with lower educational levels, and outdoor workers more. According to the researchers, this amplifies existing health inequalities in the country.
“We should be concerned that the impact will be greater in households with less money or education,” said Dr. Courtney Howard of the Global Climate and Health Alliance.
A problem that will grow with global warming
Since 1895, the average annual temperature in the United States has increased 1.2 °C (2.2 °F), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The authors warn that sugar consumption could increase even further under future warming, worsening the risks of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
“Every additional degree drives higher sugar consumption, and that will have public health consequences in a society already marked by inequalities,” concluded Pan He, lead author of the study and a researcher at Cardiff University.
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