Young children having too much sugar but fewer sugary drinks
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- Published: Wednesday, 14 September 2016 07:40
- Written by News Editor
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Public Health England has published a report which shows that young children exceed sugar recommendations, but are having fewer sugary drinks. Children aged four to 10 years are consuming more than double the recommended amount of sugar and teenagers more than three times. But consumption of sugary drinks has fallen compared to six years ago.
Children aged four to 10 years are consuming more than double the recommended amount of sugar, although consumption of sugary drinks has fallen compared to six years ago. This is according to the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), published by Public Health England (PHE).
Children aged four to 10 years drank 100mls of sugary drinks on average in 2012-14, a decrease from 130mls/day in 2008-10. However, sugar makes up 13% of children’s daily calorie intake, while the official recommendation is to limit it to no more than 5%. Worryingly, teenagers continue to consume three times the official recommendation for sugar (15%) and adults over twice as much (12%).
The survey also confirms that the UK population continues to consume too much saturated fat and not enough fruit, vegetables and fibre. Average saturated fat intake for adults aged 19 to 64 is 12.7% of daily calorie intake, above the 11% recommendation.
The same age group consume on average 4 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, older adults, aged 65 and over, consume 4.2 portions and children aged 11 to 18 consume 2.8 portions per day. Only 27% percent of adults, 35% of older adults and 8% of 11- to18-year-olds meet the “5 A Day” recommendation for fruit and vegetables.
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