New campaign to halve sugar intake
Parents in the West Midlands have been urged to halve their children's sugar intake as part of a new campaign to tackle obesity.
New figures provided by Public Health England show children have already exceeded the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18-year-old by the time they reach their 10th birthday,
To combat this, Change4Life has launched a new campaign – 'Make a swap when you shop' – to ensure parents swap foods high in sugar with healthy alternatives.
Dr Lola Abudu, deputy director for Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, West Midlands, said: “Reducing the amount of sugar children consume can often be a challenge for parents.
“By asking them to ‘Make a swap when you next shop’, we’re making it easier for families to find healthier options of the foods they love.”
Figures show 23.4 per cent of four and five-year-olds are classed as overweight or obese in the region – increasing to 37.1 per cent in 10 and 11-year-olds.
Excess
Children's sugar intakes have declined slightly in recent years, but research shows youngsters are still consuming around eight excess sugar cubes each day – equivalent to around 2,800 excess sugar cubes per year.
Overweight or obese children are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults.
Excess sugar can also lead to painful tooth decay – with 25.7 per cent of five-year-olds in the region suffering with tooth decay.
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, 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 have been encouraged to look for the Change4Life 'Good Choice' badge in shops and download the free food scanner app to find options with lower sugar.
Public Health England is currently working with the food industry to remove 20 per cent of sugar from products which contribute to children's sugar intakes.
