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Sugars represent more than one-quarter of children’s calories
More than 25% of the calories children consume comes from sugars, including nearly 15% added sugars, leading to varying effects on body weight depending on the way the sugar is consumed, according to an analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
“When we talk about ‘sugars’ we need to be clear that all sugars, and their sources, are not the same,” Jean A. Welsh, PhD, MPH, RN, of the department of pediatrics with Emory School of Medicine, told Endocrine Today. “Sugars contribute a large proportion of calories in the diets of U.S. children. Most of the sugars consumed are those added to processed and prepared foods vs. those that occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, and more are consumed in beverages than in foods.”
In a cross-sectional study, Welsh and colleagues analyzed dietary data from children aged 2 to 19 years who completed two 24-hour dietary recalls (one in person and one by phone) as part of the 2009-2014 cycles of the NHANES (n = 8,136; mean age, 11 years; 54.7% white). Dietary intake was parent-reported for children aged 2 to 5 years, parent-assisted for children aged 6 to 11 years and self-reported for children aged 12 to 19 years. Estimates of total sugar intake were calculated by the National Center for Health Statistics using nutrient content data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Researchers estimated the amount of each type and form of sugar (added sugars, naturally occurring sugars, and solid vs. liquid sugars), stratified by participants’ age and weight status. Researchers used linear regression models to test trends and assess the association between the different sugars and weight status.
The mean daily intake of total sugar, added sugars and naturally occurring sugars for the cohort was 118.1 g, 71.5 g and 46.7 g, respectively, accounting for 25.3%, 14.8% and 10.5% of total energy consumed, according to researchers. More than half of sugars consumed by children were added sugars (57.3%), and 58.8 g of sugars were consumed as liquids, including 29.3 g added sugars from nondairy sugar-sweetened beverages and 10.9 g of added sugars from 100% fruit juice. These sugars from nondairy sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice accounted for 6.9% and 2.4% of total energy, respectively.
Researchers found that children with obesity were more likely to consume added sugars from nondairy sugar-sweetened beverages vs. nondairy foods, whereas children in the normal-weight group were more likely to consume added sugars from nondairy foods vs. sugar-sweetened beverages. When examining the association using BMI z score rather than weight status categories, researchers found that each percentage of total energy increase from added sugars in nondairy beverages was associated with a BMI z score increase of 0.01 (95% CI, 0.002-0.03), and each percentage of total energy from added sugars in nondairy foods was associated with a BMI z score decrease of 0.03 (95% CI, –0.04 to –0.02).
“We need more research to better understand how the risks associated with sugar consumption can be minimized and to better understand who is at greatest risk with high consumption of sugary foods and beverages and why,” Welsh said. – by Regina Schaffer
For more information:
Jean A. Welsh, PhD, MPH, RN, can be reached at Emory School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322; email: jwelsh1@emory.edu.
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.