A diet high in sugar is considered a significant risk factor for obesity and various chronic diseases. Researchers from the University of Bonn have conducted a comprehensive analysis of sugar consumption among children and teenagers over several years. Their findings indicate a consistent decline in sugar intake since 2010; however, it still surpasses the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). These results will be published in the European Journal of Nutrition, and a preliminary version is already accessible online.
“Our research focuses on the consumption of free sugars,” states Dr. Ines Perrar, a research associate at the University of Bonn’s Institute of Nutritional and Food Science (IEL), who is the lead author. “There is ongoing discussion about whether sugar, similar to salt and fats, contributes to the onset of chronic health issues.” The WHO classifies “free sugars” as any sugars added by manufacturers or by individuals when making food and drinks at home, which includes honey, syrups, and fruit juice concentrates. It also encompasses sugars found naturally in juice.
For this study, IEL researchers examined data from the “Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed” cohort study (DONALD), which has been collecting information since 1985 on the nutrition, metabolism, growth, and overall health of children and adolescents. “Participants record and weigh everything they consume over three consecutive days each year,” explains Dr. Ute Nöthlings, a Professor of Nutritional Epidemiology at the IEL. “Using our Institute’s nutrient database, we can estimate the intake of specific nutrients, including free sugars.”
Excessive Sugar Consumption Notably High Among Teenagers
The researchers reviewed 4,218 three-day dietary records from 751 children and teenagers aged three to 18 between 2010 and 2023. “We have found that while the intake of free sugars is still decreasing,” Dr. Perrar remarks, “the average daily consumption remains above the levels recommended by both the WHO and the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung, DGE), which is a maximum of 10% of total daily energy intake.”
An earlier analysis from DONALD in 2019 highlighted a decline in free sugar consumption since 2005, noting that in 2016, the median value was about 16% of daily energy intake. This figure has since decreased further to 11.7%. The researchers suggest that this positive trend may be attributed to a growing awareness of the health risks associated with consuming excessive amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages and other sugary products.
Although this decline is an encouraging sign, notable differences exist across age groups. Professor Nöthlings, who leads the DONALD study and is involved in the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) on Sustainable Futures as well as the Life and Health TRA at the University of Bonn, observed: “During our observational period, some adolescents aged six to 14 had an average free sugar consumption of around 15% of their daily energy intake, which significantly dropped as they got older.”
Actual Sugar Intake May Be Even Higher
The results underscore the objectives of the ongoing federal policy initiative aimed at reducing sugar levels in breakfast cereals, sweetened dairy products, carbonated beverages, and fruit drinks by at least 15% by 2025. The researchers caution that the actual sugar intake among the population is likely greater than what the study indicates, partly because participants may underreport their food consumption. Furthermore, the study’s design tends to attract families from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who typically possess more awareness of nutrition and health matters.
Funding
The DONALD study receives funding from the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia.
