A consultant cardiologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, has cautioned parents about the dangers of excessive sugary drink consumption among children, warning that it could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life.
Dr. Abubakar Sani issued the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, stressing that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are linked to conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and severe tooth decay.
Sani explained that the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria makes it urgent to monitor children’s dietary habits.
“Many parents regularly include numerous sugary juices and other SSBs in their children’s school lunch, which are unhealthy for them,” he said.
He urged parents to reduce the availability of sugary drinks both at home and in school lunch packs, adding: “I advise parents to cut down on sugary drinks for their children, especially when going to school and keeping the drinks out of the home too.”
The cardiologist encouraged parents to prioritize water for hydration, describing it as the healthiest choice for children.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sugar-sweetened beverages include carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, powdered concentrates, flavoured water, energy and sports drinks, ready-to-drink tea and coffee, and flavoured milk drinks.
The WHO has emphasized that sugary drinks provide no nutritional benefit and are neither essential nor desirable in a healthy diet.
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