Heat Drives Sugar Consumption

A Nature Climate Change study tracks U.S. weather and retail purchases to show that between 54–86°F, each 1°F increase raises daily added sugar intake by ~0.4 grams per person, mostly via sugary drinks. The effect is strongest among lower‑income, less‑educated consumers and sums to over 100 million extra pounds of sugar annually versus 15 years ago, before tapering past ~86°F. — This quantifies how climate warming shifts diets and chronic‑disease risk, spotlighting adaptation, inequality, and public‑health policy around heat and beverages.