Study reveals risks of excess sugar for children

BEIJING: As Chinese children consume more sugar-sweetened beverages, experts are advising authorities to impose a sugar tax to reduce the health risks that such drinks may bring.

The World Health Organisation has long appealed to countries to levy a sugar tax to reduce obesity and diabetes among children, and where that has been done the results appear positive.

In Mexico, for example, a 10% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages was introduced in 2014. Two years later, the country saw a 5.5% drop in purchases of such drinks, followed by a 9.7% the second year. The largest declines were seen in the lowest socio-economic groups.

“There are no related policies for sugar-sweetened beverages in China, and that's a major policy gap that needs to be addressed,” said Douglas James Noble, deputy representative of the United Nations Children's Fund.

“While children suffering from stunting and wasting are still present in China, obesity is steeply on the rise.”

He strongly suggested that it’s necessary for China to impose regulation to provide a healthier environment for children.

Chinese children’s consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages almost doubled from 1998 to 2008, according to a report

It will directly increase the energy intake of children, which will stimulate their appetite. Ma Guansheng

released on Friday by Peking University and Unicef.

The survey found that children in China’s urban areas drank an average of 476ml of sugary drinks daily in 2008, compared with 220 ml in 1998.

Ma Guansheng, chief editor of the report and director of the nutrition and food department at Peking University, said even though the data is a decade old, they show a general trend.

Experts have warned that sugar-sweetened beverages might put children’s health at risk, increasing the possibility of obesity, tooth decay and Type 2 diabetes. Ma said there is no doubt that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages will increase the chance a child will become obese

“It will directly increase the energy intake of children, which will stimulate their appetite,” he said.