US$3.5B in extra costs: Excess sugar consumption puts undue strain on Canadian healthcare

17 Mar 2022 --- Researchers from the University of Alberta are flagging that too much added sugar in food is costing the Canadian healthcare system CA$5 billion (US$3.5 billion) each year. According to the study, the losses come from direct and indirect costs due to too much sugar consumption.

Changing consumption patterns to have citizens take in less than 5% of “free sugars” for their daily energy intake will thus save Canadian taxpayers billions in the long-term and secure better health outcomes. 

 The researchers say diabetes rates could be reduced by 27% by limiting sugar to less than 10% of daily intake. This number could even reach 44.8% by limiting sugar intake to less than 5% of daily energy consumption.

Up to 67% of Canadian healthcare costs stem from treatment and management of chronic disease, costing taxpayers US$150 billion annually.Therefore, the researchers are calling on governments to use education, subsidies and taxation, among other measures, to compel healthy eating habits, noting the urgency for healthier lifestyles in a world marked by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Principal investigator and professor of Public Health at the University of Alberta, Paul Vleugelers, warns: “If we do not act now, we should expect more chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes in the years ahead.”

According to Canada’s Food Guide and the World Health Organization, it is recommended that less than 10% of daily energy intake be made up of “free sugar” from foods with added sugar or naturally sweet beverages, syrup or honey. However, in the study, researchers found the majority of Canadians eat more sugar than recommended.

Sugar intake related to 16 chronic disorders
A total of 40 countries and cities across the globe have introduced a tax on sugary beverages such as sodas to make consumers think twice about their sugar consumption. 

Labrador and Newfoundland introduced the first Canadian version of such a tax, with similar policies gaining traction elsewhere. Such a move would be in line with current market trends demanding lower sugar levels in foods, meaning there may be hidden opportunities for companies seeking to comply with what may be incoming regulations.

But the researchers stress a much more intensive approach is necessary, as only 17% of costs related to sugar intake could be traced to beverages. As such, the researchers are asking for more taxes on all sugary products, with the revenue going toward healthy food subsidies and education plans and better product labeling. 

Advertising sugary products toward children should also be limited, the study notes.

According to the researchers, excessive sugar consumption is related to at least 16 chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney disease and back pain. An estimated 44.8% reduction in the rate of diabetes could be achieved by limiting consumption of sugar to less than 5% of energy intake, according to the researchers.

In the study, researchers found avoidable healthcare costs related to these disorders range from direct costs like hospitals, drugs and doctors, while indirect costs manifest as loss of productivity due to illness and disability.

“Considering the financial pressures on health care systems, understanding the magnitude of avoidable costs for the treatment and management of chronic diseases is essential to public health decision-makers,” stress the researchers.

Act now or deal with consequences later
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the country’s healthcare expenditures topped CA$308 billion (US$243 billion) last year. This number is inflated due to complications from the COVID-19 global pandemic.

According to Vleugelers, healthcare costs from chronic diseases are on the rise, meaning Canada – and ostensibly, governments at large – need to create a more efficient healthcare system.

He says Canadians should also invest in primary prevention to ensure fewer patients with chronic disease and that addressing sugar consumption is a strategy to achieve this.

Edited by Olivia Nelson