Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Diet Related Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

abstract In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), diet-related chronic non-communicable diseases (DR-CNCDs) pose a growing public health threat, jeopardising progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. One contributing factor to this rising threat is the recent surge in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), across SSA in recent years. Using the socio-ecological model, this commentary explores the nexus between DR-NCDs and SSBs and offers interventions to address this public health challenge at the individual, interpersonal, community, organisational and policy levels. At the individual level, health education campaigns should target individuals and ensure an increase in awareness creation. The life-course approach underscores the importance of promoting healthier dietary choices from childhood to prevent diet-related non-communicable diseases in later life. Schools and workplaces enforcing local policies that discourage SSB consumption patterns will make a huge difference at the community and organisational levels. At the societal/policy level, comprehensive strategies such as sugar taxes, front-of-pack labelling, advertising restrictions and health education programmes are crucial.