Soda, candy, cookies, ice cream: all delectable sweets that are a favorite among children. These treats are hot on the radar of parents, pediatricians, and school administrators who know that behind the flavors is an issue with sugar that cannot be ignored. However, many might not know that once the sweets are cut out, the potential for negative health impacts doesn’t end there. In fact, research is showing that sugar consumption during childhood can be the catalyst for serious long-term health issues.

A Look at Wartime Consumption

The impacts of sugar on the human body are not a new source of exploration. But concerns were further realized when a recent collaborative study conducted by Tadeja Gracner from the University of Southern California, Claire Boone of McGill University, and Paul Gertler of the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business added new insights to the children/sugar intake conversation.

Researchers looked at previous data gathered from just before and after the end of wartime sugar rationing in the UK in September 1953, analyzing the effect of restrictions earlier on in life and then the associated health outcomes as adults. This timing was very important is it allowed time for the development of chronic diseases among the specific population.1

The data shared that sugar consumption during that time was about 10 teaspoons daily, which was then followed by rationing. Interestingly, the data showed that sugar deprivation actually aligned with the modern dietary guidelines of the USDA and the World Health Organization, recommending that children under the age of two shouldn’t consume any added sugars whatsoever, and that adults generally should limit their added sugar consumption to 7 teaspoons per day and consume no more than 12 teaspoons.2

However, once the rationing ended, the consumption of sugar quickly increased to around 20 teaspoons per day on average.3

Assessing the Study Findings

At the close of the study by Gracner, Boone and Gertler, key findings came to light that should reshape the way we approach sugar intake for children:4

  • Rationing sugar in a child’s first 1,000 days resulted in reduced type 2 diabetes and a decreased risk of hypertension (around 35% and 20% respectively)
  • A delay in the onset of type 2 diabetes and hypertension was by 4 and 2 years (respectively)
  • In-utero sugar rationing could be attributed to around 1/3 of the risk reduction
  • Protection against health issues actually increased with the length of time babies had limited sugar exposure

Adults who work hard to safeguard the health of children – cutting back sugar or even removing it entirely – certainly must be commended for their care. However, the results show that there is a strong tie between sugar consumption for children and health issues later into adulthood (especially regarding type 2 diabetes and hypertension), so there is still much more work to be done.

Harsh Reality and Possible Solutions

According to the American Heart Association, children ages 2 to 18 years old should have less than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day, and children younger than 2 years old shouldn’t have any sugar at all.5 However, data showed that in 2017–2018, the average daily intake of added sugar was 17 teaspoons for children and young adults aged 2 to 19 years.6  With this, it’s clear that we must take a long hard look at the amount of sugar that children are consuming to ensure that they do not follow a dangerous path.

So how do we ensure we are following important dietary guidelines while appealing to children and their desire for sweetness? Consider the following alternatives:7

  • Pick plain yogurt with no added sugar, adding in fruit or cinnamon for a sweet flavor
  • Shop for cereals with 5% of the Daily Value or less of added sugars (adding fruit can add a sweeter taste)
  • Reach for water, herbal tea (caffeine-free) and other beverages with no added sugar
  • When baking, reduce the amount of added sugar by 1/4-1/3 cup (you can also replace portions of required sugar with applesauce, ripe banana, etc. where possible)

We’ve Only Just Begun

While the study results seem to paint a bleak future, the data actually positions us towards a better, brighter path forward, where education about the impact of sugar on children – now and over time – can be addressed much earlier on. Pass it on, like notes exchanged in a classroom, and share this key information with friends and family so that in time the risks for serious health issues can be reduced substantially. Consumer education is key!

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References

  1. Sugar restrictions in utero and early childhood reduces risk of chronic disease, study finds. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley website. https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/exposure-to-sugar-restrictions-in-utero-and-early-childhood-reduces-risk-of-chronic-disease-study-finds/ October 31, 2024
  2. Sugar restrictions in utero and early childhood reduces risk of chronic disease, study finds. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley website. https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/exposure-to-sugar-restrictions-in-utero-and-early-childhood-reduces-risk-of-chronic-disease-study-finds/ October 31, 2024
  3. Sugar restrictions in utero and early childhood reduces risk of chronic disease, study finds. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley website. https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/exposure-to-sugar-restrictions-in-utero-and-early-childhood-reduces-risk-of-chronic-disease-study-finds/ October 31, 2024
  4. Exposure to Sugar Rationing in the First 1000 Days of Life Protected Against Chronic Disease. Science website. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn5421 October 31, 2024.
  5. Sugar: How Bad Are Sweets for Your Kids? Cleveland Clinic website. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sugar-how-bad-are-sweets-for-your-kids July 5, 2024.
  6. Get the Facts: Added Sugars. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/php/data-research/added-sugars.html January 5, 2024.
  7. Added Sugar. The Nutrition Source website. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/ Last reviewed April 2022.