That’s the unfortunate connection revealed in a new study by environmental scientist Pan He from Cardiff University. It suggests that as climate change increases America’s temperature, Americans are eating more sugar. This new research is a critical step in understanding how climate change is altering our diets. It targets those with less income and education. The findings indicate that as the average annual temperature in the United States continues to rise, so does the amount of sugar consumed by its citizens.
USDA’s study compared detailed sales records from large retailers for 40,000 to 60,000 American households from 2004 to 2019. It then matched these records to climate data, looking specifically at contextual factors including wind, precipitation, and humidity. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average annual temperature in the United States has risen approximately 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) since 1895, prompting researchers to explore its effects on consumer behavior.
Impact of Temperature on Sugar Intake
The research shows that when temperatures reach between 54 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (12 to 30 degrees Celsius), the average American’s sugar intake increases significantly. In fact, for each degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature, sugar intake increases by an estimated 0.4 grams per day.
At a hot 54 degrees Fahrenheit, people eat about 2.25 grams of added sugar. At 30°C (86°F), this figure jumps to upwards of 15 grams. This research provides a window into how changes in temperature can have a direct impact on what we eat.
“From a perspective of nutrition science or environmental science, that could be a problem,” said researcher Pan He.
The research sheds much needed light on disparities in sugar consumption by SES. Lower-income households and households with lower levels of education experience the greatest increase in sugar consumption as temperatures increase. This trend is exacerbated during hotter weather. Poorer communities often lack access to air conditioning and may work outdoors, necessitating greater hydration and reliance on sugary beverages.
Disproportionate Effects on Vulnerable Populations
The study reveals that individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to consume sugary drinks due to both marketing strategies and limited access to clean drinking water. In many communities, sugary drinks are the most accessible option when water quality concerns make drinking tap water an unpalatable choice.
Duo Chan, a climate scientist at the University of Southampton, noted, “People tend to take in more sweetened beverages as the temperature is getting higher and higher.” He further emphasized the health implications of this trend: “Obviously under a warming climate that would cause you to drink more or take in more sugar. That is going to be a severe problem when it comes to health.”
These results suggest that climate change could lead white Americans to increase their added sugar intake considerably. Asian Americans do not have increases in sugar consumption and actually become consistent consumers of sugar, as temperature dramatically rises.
Long-Term Implications and Health Risks
The latest federal data make clear that American sugar consumption has skyrocketed in recent years. It’s increased by over 100 million pounds (358 million kilograms) annually! This troubling trend is nothing short of an unmitigated disaster for public health. Climate change will get worse in the next few decades, raising these concerns even higher.
Courtney Howard, vice chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, expressed her concern regarding the implications of these findings: “It should concern us that the rate of the impact is larger in households where people make less money or are less educated.” She pointed out that with warmer weather appetites increase causing higher sugar intake. There is a point of diminishing return. Go past that point and appetite begins to wane.
Furthermore, researcher Robert Lustig brought further salience to the health risks of this trend. During the call, Cohen underscored the imminent and steep health risk to poorer Americans. Simply drinking one additional can of sugary soft drink a day increases their risk of diabetes by 29%. The joint effects of increased thirst with rising temperatures and dietary sugar overload are supercharging America’s present and future obesity crisis.