- Examination Reveals Excessive Sugar Consumption in Youth Population
Kids and young individuals are still consuming an excess amount of sugar, despite a slight decrease in their sugar intake compared to past years. This conclusion stemmed from a study conducted by the University of Bonn, which analyzed the sugar consumption of children aged 3 to 18. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines free sugar as sugar, such as honey, syrup, and fruit juice concentrates, that is added by manufacturers or during the preparation of foods or beverages at home.
As per the recent analysis, the consumption of free sugar within the mentioned age group is approximately 11.7% of their total daily energy intake. However, the researchers propose that it might be slightly higher than what was calculated in the study. The WHO and the German Society for Nutritional Science suggest a maximum of 10%. In 2019, a re-evaluation of the same study series showed that the consumption of free sugar had decreased since 2005 and was about 16% of the daily energy intake in 2016.
Long-term research on over 700 adolescents
The data for this analysis came from the "Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed" (Donald) study, which has been gathering information about adolescents' nutrition since 1985. The participants document everything they eat and drink once a year for three consecutive days. From the 4,218 three-day dietary records of 751 children and young individuals aged 3 to 18, which were collected between 2010 and 2023, the researchers from Bonn estimated the consumption of free sugar.
There are differences between age groups. "We notice a relatively high consumption of free sugar, around 15%, particularly among adolescents aged 6 to 14, which then decreases with age," said the study's leader, Ute Nothlings. The study was published in the "European Journal of Nutrition".
The researchers suspect that the decrease in sugar consumption is due to an increased awareness of the health effects of sugary foods, such as sugar-sweetened beverages. However, the reduction in sugar content in commercial foods due to product reformulation may also have a role to play.
Limitation of the data
However, the researchers suspect that the actual sugar consumption might be higher than indicated by the data. Participants may have underreported their sugar intake due to self-reporting. It is also possible that participants consumed less sugar than usual during the three recording days due to increased awareness.
Additionally, the study is not representative of the entire population, as families with a higher socio-economic status tend to participate due to the extensive study design. There is a tendency for a stronger awareness of nutrition and health issues in this group. Additionally, there is no targeted dietary counseling for sugar reduction within the study, as explained by a researcher upon request.
Despite the reduced consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, other beverages still contribute to a significant amount of free sugar intake among the studied age group. The World Health Organization recommends that free sugar should not exceed 10% of an individual's total daily energy intake, and this limit might be exceeded due to consumption of other sugar-containing beverages.
