KIDS MAXED OUT ON SUGAR BY AGE OF 10
Youngsters scoff huge 304lbs
CHILDREN have scoffed
18 years worth of sugar by the age of 10.
The average youngster has already gobbled a whopping
304lbs of the sweet treat when they leave primary school.
Health experts recommend that
10-year-olds consume no more than 20-25 grammes a day.
However, they have learned that children are chomping through an average of 52.2 grammes.
And now Public Health England has urged parents to tackle their children’s sugar addiction in a bid to curb Britain’s raging obesity crisis.
They say picking better yogurts, drinks and cereals could help halve a child’s sugar intake.
The group believes low-sugar options could cut the equivalent of 2,500 sugar cubes from each child’s diet per year. A third of primary school leavers are now overweight or obese, and more young people than ever are developing Type-2 diabetes.
Overweight kids are more likely to remain fat in adulthood, putting them at heightened risk of such health problems as heart disease and cancer.
Simple swaps
“Children are consuming too much sugar, but parents can actnow to prevent this building over the years,” said PHE’s chief nutritionist Alison Tedstone.
She said the PHE’s Change4Life campaign was designed to help busy families by offering “a straightforward solution – by making simple swaps each day, children can have healthier versions of everyday foods and drinks, while significantly reducing their sugar intake”.
PHE said that food and drink manufacturers have responded to calls for lower sugar content, making it easier for parents to find alternative options.
In May, the government health agency published its report on progress towards a first-year sugar reduction ambition of 5%, showing an average 2% cut across categories for retailers and manufacturers.
Families are encouraged to look for the Change4Life Good Choice badge on products in shops, and can download a free app to identify lower sugar options.
The Star Says: Page 6