Exercise won’t silence the health problems of sugary drinks 

You can’t outrun too many sodas.

While it shouldn’t be breaking news to anyone that heavily sweetened drinks aren’t the healthiest dietary choice, a 2024 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition warns that exercise alone isn’t enough to undo the risks of cardiovascular disease associated with consuming sugary drinks. The American-Canadian research team examined two groups totaling roughly 100,000 adults, following them for about three decades. The analyzed data revealed that people who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and iced teas more than twice weekly had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease—and while being physically active did reduce this risk somewhat, it did not fully negate the higher chances of suffering heart problems. These findings suggest individuals consuming sugary drinks daily face even larger cardiovascular risk profiles, even if trying to meet the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity. However, what this study did not show was that endurance athletes like cyclists and long-distance runners—who consume sports drinks during activity—are more likely to face issues with heart health. So fit pros need to encourage their clients to strive for more physical activity while simultaneously ditching the sugary drinks during their no-sweat time. 

Want to learn more? Should More Cities Increase Taxes on Sugary Drinks?