A consultant cardiologist in Gombe, Dr Abubakar Sani, has warned that excessive consumption of sugary drinks increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases among children.
Sani said frequent intake of sugar-sweetened beverages could predispose children to heart disease, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, adding that the trend contributes to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, the cardiologist urged parents to pay closer attention to the impact of sugary drinks on children’s heart health.
He noted that many parents routinely pack sugary juices and other sweetened beverages in their children’s school lunches, despite their harmful health effects.
“Children who consume too many sugary drinks are exposed to serious health risks such as obesity, severe tooth decay and long-term cardiovascular problems,” he said.
With schools resuming nationwide, Sani advised parents to significantly reduce their children’s intake of sugary drinks, particularly in school lunches, and to limit their availability at home.
He recommended water as the healthiest option for children, stressing that it remains the best choice for hydration.
According to the World Health Organisation, sugar-sweetened beverages include all drinks containing free sugars, such as carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, energy and sports drinks, flavoured water, ready-to-drink tea and coffee, liquid and powdered concentrates, and flavoured milk drinks.
The WHO noted that sugary drinks offer no nutritional benefits and should not form part of a healthy diet.
