The health and economic burden associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Trinidad and Tobago.

This article focuses on estimating the health and economic burden associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in Trinidad and Tobago, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death. Using a comparative risk assessment model, the study found that SSB intake is linked to approximately 76,000 cases of diseases annually—including diabetes, overweight and obesity, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease—and about 387 deaths, resulting in the loss of 9,000 healthy life years. The economic cost to the public healthcare system for treating these conditions was estimated at US$23.1 million per year. The findings support the need for comprehensive health and fiscal policies, such as taxation and regulation, to reduce SSB consumption and mitigate its impact on public health and healthcare costs in Trinidad and Tobago and similar Small Island Developing States.