A new study found out that drinking too many sugar-sweetened beverages, which contain added sugars in the form of high fructose corn syrup or table sugar, can lead to excess weight gain and a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

"Since we rarely consume fructose in isolation, the major source of fructose in the diet comes from fructose-containing sugars, sucrose and high fructose corn syrup, in sugar-sweetened beverages," Frank Hu, MD, PhD, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and lead investigator of the paper wrote. "Our findings underscore the urgent need for public health strategies that reduce the consumption of these drinks."

Corn starch-produced sweeteners such as high fructose syrup have been extensively used in the U.S. as a low-cost substitute to sucrose in both food and beverages, Science Daily reported. As a matter of fact, it remained as the single greatest source of added sugar intake in the American diet despite the moderate shrinkage of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in the past.

"This is particularly concerning as the research shows that consuming one or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day has been linked to greater weight gain and obesity in numerous published studies," Dr. Frank said. "Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages can lead to weight gain because the liquid calories are not filling, and so people don't reduce their food intake at subsequent meals."

Diabetes News informed the study revealed that consuming one or two servings a day has been linked to a 16% increased risk of stroke, as high as 35% greater risk of heart attack or fatal heart disease and 26% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Aside from that, the team also explored how the body metabolizes fructose including its link to weight gain and the development of metabolic and cardiovascular conditions.

Moreover, it was emphasized that reducing total amounts of added sugar especially is important to since fructose and glucose typically travel together in the form of sugar-sweetened food and beverages.

"Although reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or added sugar alone is unlikely to solve the obesity epidemic entirely, limiting intake is one simple change that will have a measurable impact on weight control and prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases," Dr. Frank and his team concluded. Furthermore, the researchers are hopeful that changes to nutritional labeling will also help educate consumers and ultimately reduce the daily intake of these and other sugar-sweetened products.