Added Sugars and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children
Published: August 22, 2016
- Added sugar intake is associated with higher cardiovascular risk factors in children – including higher energy intake, higher adiposity and abdominal adiposity, and higher dyslipidemia – at levels far below U.S. children’s current added sugars consumption levels.
- Foods and beverages each contribute approximately half of the added sugars in children’s diets, 40g and 38g, respectively. The top contributors to added sugars intake include soda, fruit-flavored and sports drinks, and cakes and cookies.
- Children and adolescents should limit calories from added sugars to ≤25 grams (100 calories or ~6 tsp) per day and should limit their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages to ≤ one 8 ounce beverage per week. Added sugars should not be in the habitual diet of children under the age of 2 years.
Supporting Materials
- Commentary: Has the World Become Too Sweet? by 1. Samuel S. Gidding, MD1 and 2. Julie A. Mennella, PhD2
- Top Things to Know: Added Sugars and CVD Risk in Children
- AHA News: Kids and added sugars: How much is too much?
- AHA News Spanish: Los niños y los azúcares agregados: ¿Cuánta cantidad de azúcar es demasiada?
- News Release: Children should eat less than 25 grams of added sugars daily