UK children exceed total childhood recommended intake of sugar by the age of 10, new research suggests
Children in the UK are consuming the total recommended intake of sugar for their entire childhood by the time they turn 10, new research suggests.
Figures show that children are consuming around 8 extra cubes of sugar per day, which equates to an additional 2,800 cubes per year. This is compared to the recommended daily intake and relates to sugar consumption from the age of two.
Public Health England is eager to encourage parents and children to change their eating habits in a bid to reduce sugar consumption significantly. Rates of childhood obesity are increasing, and dental decay is the most common cause of childhood hospital admissions, despite the fact that it is almost always preventable.
Guidelines suggest a maximum recommended daily intake of 5 cubes for children aged 4-6 years old, 6 cubes for children aged 7-10 years old and 7 cubes for children aged over 11. Studies show that children in the UK consume around 13 cubes of sugar per day. Findings from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey revealed that most sugar in children’s diets comes from fizzy drinks, sugary breakfast cereals, cakes, biscuits, sweets and puddings. A 500ml bottle of an energy drink contains 13 cubes of sugar, while a 330ml can of cola has 9 cubes.
In light of the news, Public Health England has proposed a pudding tax, which would increase levies on sugary desserts in a similar way to the fizzy drink tax, which is already in force. Public Health England also recently launched a campaign to encourage healthy snacking, as research found that many children were consuming the recommended daily intake of sugar through snacking alone.
