Rising temperatures and sugar craving

A new study has uncovered a striking link between rising temperatures and growing sugar consumption in the United States.

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While much of the conversation about climate change focuses on rising seas, more intense storms, or melting glaciers, this research suggests that even moderate warming is altering what people eat and drink in ways that could carry serious health risks.

Over a period from 2004 to 2019 researchers tracked grocery purchase records across tens of thousands of American households and compared those with detailed weather data. They found that when outdoor temperatures rise into a certain range - roughly between 12°C and 30°C (about 54°F to 86°F) - people increase their intake of added sugar. Most of the extra sugar comes from sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda and juice, plus frozen treats like ice cream.

For each degree Celsius increase in that temperature window, added sugar consumption rose by approximately 0.70 grams per person per day. The increase is less dramatic outside that range; when temperatures climb above the higher end of the range, appetites tend to reduce, and sugar consumption does not climb as steeply.