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Adults and Children Eating Too Many Added Sugars, CDC Finds

cupcakesMost of us focus on calories and fat when it comes to watching what we eat. But what about added sugars?

Did you know it’s in bread, teas, and sweetened bottled water?

Added sugars are everywhere.

It probably shouldn’t come as a big surprise that roughly 13 percent of the total calories consumed by adults came from added sugars, according to a new federal report – The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey – which analyzed our eating habits from 2005 to 2010.

Unfortunately, it’s relatively high when you consider that no more than 5 to 15 percent of calories should come from solid fats and added sugars, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

To cut back on eating added sugars, which contribute to weight gain and obesity, start reading nutritional labels. You’ll find added sugars in processed and prepared foods including: jams, chocolates, sodas, juices, coffees, teas, alcoholic beverages, sports drinks, sweetened bottled waters, energy drinks and milk.

Not only does eating these types of foods and beverages make it hard to lose weight, but it also means you’re probably replacing healthy, nutritious meals with ones that are sugary sweet.

Children and adolescents are at particular risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s report. Recent data shows that they obtain about 16 percent of their total calories from added sugars.

Other key findings from the report include:

  • More of the calories from added sugars were consumed at home, rather than away.
  • More of the calories from added sugars came from foods, not beverages.
  • The mean percentage of total calories from added sugars decreased as people got older or had higher incomes.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ervin RB, Ogden CL. Consumption of added sugars among U.S. adults, 2005–2010. NCHS data brief, no 122. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2013.

+ Learn about the Bon Secours Youth Fitness Program, which helps young people learn healthy lifestyle habits and lose weight.

+ Do you have type 2 diabetes? We offer group and individual counseling to help you manage this chronic disease.