{"id":48336,"date":"2014-09-16T19:09:37","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T19:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=48336"},"modified":"2014-09-16T19:09:37","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T19:09:37","slug":"sugar-intake-must-be-slashed-further-say-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/09\/sugar-intake-must-be-slashed-further-say-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Sugar intake must be slashed further, say scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"
The target to reduce sugar consumption should be much more ambitious, health experts say.<\/p>\n
Both the World Health Organization and government advisers in England have recently proposed a cut in their recommendations for sugar consumption.<\/p>\n
The new advice is that it should account for 5% of energy intake – down from 10%.<\/p>\n
But a study published in the BMC Public Health journal suggested the target should be no more than 3%.<\/p>\n
The researchers – from University College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – said the move was needed after looking at the cost in both health and financial terms of tooth decay.<\/p>\n
They said sugar was the most important factor in the development of tooth decay and because of that it was a “largely preventable disease”.<\/p>\n
The study said an increase from near-zero sugar to 5% of energy intake doubles the prevalence of decay in children,<\/p>\n
The treatment of dental problems costs between 5% and 10% of total health expenditure in industrial countries, it added.<\/p>\n
Report co-author Prof Philip James, a nutrition expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and past president of the World Obesity Federation, said tough action was needed.<\/p>\n
Sugar tax<\/p>\n
He called for vending machines offering confectionery and sugary drinks in areas controlled by government, such as schools and hospitals, to be removed.<\/p>\n
He also said foods that take consumption above 2.5% should be labelled as high and a sugar tax introduced to curtail consumption.<\/p>\n
Prof James said there was no “magic silver bullet”, but added that action was needed as sugar consumption was a huge public health issue.<\/p>\n
Despite the move to reduce sugar consumption, evidence shows that many people were failing to meet the old 10% target.<\/p>\n
The target of 5% of energy intake from free sugars amounts to 25g for women (five to six teaspoons) and 35g (seven to eight teaspoons) for men, based on the average diet.<\/p>\n
One 330ml can of fizzy pop would take a typical adult up to the proposed 5% daily allowance, without factoring in sugar from any other source.<\/p>\n
Both of the authors of the study are part of the Action on Sugar campaign group, which has been calling for tough measure to combat sugar consumption.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The target to reduce sugar consumption should be much more ambitious, health experts say. Both the World Health Organization and government advisers in England have recently proposed a cut in their recommendations for sugar consumption. The new advice is that it should account for 5% of energy intake – down from 10%. But a study […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":48340,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[15],"yoast_head":"\n