A recent study has revealed that kids whose parents keep them away from sugar during their first two years tend to have lower chances of developing diabetes and high blood pressure later in life. Interestingly, this protective effect sticks around even if they start consuming more sugar after turning two. The research, published on Thursday in Science, highlights that processed sugars can actually start affecting children negatively while they’re still in the womb.
Despite public health guidelines advising against added sugars for kids, about 85% of children in the U.S. munch on sugary foods daily. A 2020 report from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics pointed out that for infants, this often includes sweetened yogurts and baby foods, while toddlers typically enjoy candies and pastries.
While many children exceed the World Health Organization’s recommendations for sugar intake, we don’t fully understand all the consequences of eating too much sugar. A Canadian study from 2021 looked at how sugar affects children’s bodies but found no link between sugar consumption and waist size. However, it didn’t shed light on how long-term sugar intake might impact their metabolism.
To dig deeper into these long-lasting effects of early sugar consumption, researchers used a unique situation: after World War II, there was strict sugar rationing in the UK that limited how much sugar people could consume—similar to what today’s public health officials suggest for kids in America.
A new study has shown that kids whose parents keep them away from sugar during their first couple of years are less likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure as they grow older. What’s really interesting is that this protective effect seems to stick around even if those kids start eating more sugar after they turn two. The research, which came out on Thursday in Science, points out that processed sugars can actually have a negative impact on kids even before they’re born!
Even though health experts recommend limiting added sugars for children, about 85% of kids in the U.S. are still snacking on sugary treats every day. A report from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2020 noted that infants often consume sweetened yogurts and baby foods, while toddlers tend to go for candies and pastries. Many children exceed the World Health Organization’s sugar intake guidelines, but we still don’t fully grasp all the effects of consuming too much sugar.
A Canadian study from 2021 examined how sugar impacts children’s bodies but didn’t find a connection between sugar intake and waist size. However, it didn’t explore how long-term sugar consumption might influence their metabolism. To investigate these lasting effects of early sugar habits further, researchers looked at a unique situation: after World War II, there was strict rationing in the UK that limited how much sugar people could eat—similar to what today’s public health officials recommend for American kids!