A Gombe State-based cardiologist, Dr. Abubakar Sani, yesterday said excessive consumption of sugary drinks increases risk of cardiovascular diseases in children.

He said excessive consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) might predispose children to the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes.

The consultant cardiologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He cautioned against the excessive consumption of sugary drinks in viesugary drinksw of the prevalence of NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs) linked to consuming such.

He said: “Many parents regularly include numerous sugary juices and other SSBs in their children’s school lunch, which are unhealthy for them. “Children consuming too many sugary drinks can also expose them to serious risks like obesity, and severe tooth decay.

“As schools resume across the country, 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.”