Newswise —
The reduction of added sugars in caloric intake has been identified as a key health indicator in the Healthy People 2030 initiative, a national public health effort led by the US Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative sets data-driven national goals to improve health and well-being over the next decade. Despite the fact that many Americans consume excessive amounts of sugar, research has shown that a modest reduction in added sugars intake would be sufficient to achieve a population average of 11.5% of calories from added sugars by 2030. Prioritizing the reduction of added sugars intake among individuals who do not meet current recommendations could be particularly beneficial for those who are at a higher risk of chronic diseases associated with excessive sugar consumption. These findings are reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
According to Ellen W. Stowe, PhD, MPH, a lead investigator and fellow at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education in Oak Ridge, TN, USA, diets that are high in added sugars have been linked to negative health outcomes such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The researchers aimed to investigate the extent of reduction in added sugars intake required to meet the target set by Healthy People 2030.
Despite a slight decline in the consumption of added sugars in the United States, a significant portion of Americans still exceed recommended limits. Data from 2013-2016 showed that the average intake of added sugars for individuals aged two years and older was 13.5% of total calories. Alarmingly, less than half of the population, including only about 35% of children aged two to 19 years and 47% of adults aged 20 years and older, met the recommended limit of less than 10% of total calories from added sugars, as outlined in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
To determine the necessary reduction in added sugars intake to meet the Healthy People 2030 target, four different public health approaches were employed, which analyzed specific segments of the population. This analysis utilized survey data from the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is a nationally representative sample of the non-institutionalized civilian population in the United States. The added sugars intake was examined before and after reduction, taking into account sociodemographic characteristics to gain insights into the impact of the reduction across different groups within the population.
The study revealed that the extent of the required reduction in calories from added sugars varied depending on the approach used. On average, the reduction ranged from 14 to 57 calories per day per person in order to meet the target set by Healthy People 2030. This finding suggests that a significant decrease in added sugars intake is necessary to achieve the desired outcome, and the magnitude of the reduction may differ based on the specific approach employed in the analysis.
Approach 1: General United States population – decrease by an average of 13.7 calories/day
Approach 2: People exceeding the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendation for added sugars (>10% calories from added sugars) – decrease by an average of 22 calories/day
Approach 3: People exceeding the 2020–2025 DGA recommendation for added sugars by at least 1.5 times (≥15% calories from added sugars, i.e., high consumers of added sugars) – decrease by an average of 56.6 calories/day
Approach 4: People exceeding the DGA recommendation for added sugars with two different reductions based on added sugars intake – decrease by an average of 13.9 and 32.3 calories/day for people consuming 10 to <15% and ≥15% calories from added sugars, respectively
Significant differences by age, race/ethnicity, and income observed pre-reduction persisted after different added sugars reductions were applied based on the four approaches.
Dr. Stowe expressed optimism about the findings of the study, stating, "The results from our study were encouraging." She highlighted that achieving the Healthy People 2030 target for added sugars intake is feasible with modest reductions in consumption, regardless of which of the four approaches was used in the analysis. She further explained that the required reduction amounts to just a small fraction, equivalent to less than half of a 12-ounce soft drink. This is significant because it indicates that a drastic change in diet may not be necessary to meet the target, making it more achievable for individuals and populations to reduce their added sugars intake and improve their overall health.
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