Sugar warning for youngsters
HEALTH: The average child has already eaten more sugar than the maximum amount recommended for an 18-yearold by the time they reach their 10th birthday, a study suggests.
Public Health England (PHE) said a typical 10-year-old has consumed at least 138kg (304lb) of sugar by the time they reach adulthood.
THE AVERAGE child has already eaten more sugar than the maximum amount recommended for an 18-year-old by the time they reach their 10th birthday, a study suggests.
Public Health England (PHE) said a typical 10-year-old has consumed at least 138kg (304lb) of sugar – the equivalent of nearly 14 farm sacks of potatoes – by the time they reach adulthood.
The Change4Life campaign is launching as severe obesity in children aged 10 to 11 hits an alltime high.
A third of youngsters are leaving primary school overweight or obese, and more young people than ever are developing Type-2 diabetes.
On average in Yorkshire and the Humber, one in five (20.6 per cent) of year six pupils were considered obese.
Children who are overweight are also more likely to remain so into adulthood, and are at higher risk of developing heart disease and certain cancers.
The data, gathered from household eating habits in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, was released as PHE offers parents tips on how to get youngsters eating less sugar.
The Change4Life campaign is encouraging parents to change their shopping habits.
Making different choices of yogurts, drinks and cereals could cut a child’s sugar intake by half, according to the Government health agency.
PHE said food and beverage manufacturers have also responded to calls for lower sugar content, making it easier for parents to find alternative options.
In May last year, the agency published its report on progress towards a first-year sugar reduction ambition of five per cent, showing an average two per cent cut across categories for retailers and manufacturers.
Switching to low-sugar options could cut intake by as much as 2,500 sugar cubes per year from a child’s diet.
The recommended maximum amount of sugar for 10-year-olds is 20 to 24 grammes a day.
But according to the PHE’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey, children are eating an average of 52.2 grammes a day, from the age of two. That is equivalent to 13 cubes a day, eight more than the recommended level.
Alison Tedstone, PHE chief nutritionist, said: “Children are consuming too much sugar, but parents can take action now to prevent this building up over the years.
“To make this easier for busy families, Change4Life is 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.”
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.
According to figures from last year, nine out of 31 children (30 per cent) in a typical class of pupils aged four to five in Hull were overweight or obese in 2017-18.
The statistics from the National Child Measurement Programme are the highest in Yorkshire, while Hull is second only to Bradford for obese 10 and 11-yearolds in the region.
Obese and overweight children are costing the city £215m each year in social care, medication and through lost earnings, a report last November warned.
Children can have healthier versions of everyday foods and drinks.
Alison Tedstone, PHE chief nutritionist.