The dietary intake of added and natural sugars in 405 English adolescents

Abstract

A number of reports have urged a reduction in sugars intake. Implementing this advice depends upon knowledge of sugars intake by target groups. This paper reports the added and natural sugars intake by one target group--young adolescents. The diet of 405 children was recorded using a 3-day diary with interview repeated five times between September 1979 and July 1981. Food tables (Paul & Southgate, 1978) were used and the values for the sugars content of the food items altered to provide both added sugars and natural sugars concentration. The mean daily intake of added and natural sugars respectively, for the 193 boys was 85 g (s.d. 22), 39 g (s.d. 12), and for the 212 girls was 78 g (s.d. 24), 35 g (s.d. 12). Added sugars contributed, on average, 69 per cent of total sugars and 15 per cent of energy intake. Confectionery, table sugar and soft drinks together contained 71 per cent of the added sugars intake, while milk, fruit and their products provided the majority of the natural sugars. It is considered that major reductions of sugars intake would be possible in these children by restricting the intake of a small number of groups of foods of low nutrient density. Food labelling of sugars content would enable consumers to make sensible choices of foods.