Added Sugars in American Children’s Diet: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016

Authors: Bowman, Shanthy; Clemens, John; Friday, James; SCHROEDER, NATALIA - University Of Maryland; Lacomb, Randy

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2020
Publication Date: 1/13/2020
Citation: Bowman, S.A., Clemens, J.C., Friday, J.E., Schroeder, N., LaComb, R.P. 2020. Added Sugars in American Children’s Diet: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016. Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group. Available: https://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg/wweia/dbrief.

Interpretive Summary: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 (DGA) recommend that Americans limit their added sugars intake to less than 10 percent of daily calories. This study focuses on the major food and beverage sources of added sugars in the diet of American children ages 2 to 19 years. What We Eat in America (WWEIA), NHANES 2015-2016, day 1 dietary data and the Food Patterns Equivalents 2015-2016 data were analyzed. Children were grouped into three age categories: 2-5 years; 6-11 years; and 12-19 years. WWEIA Food Categories were used to group foods and beverages to estimate added sugars contribution. On the whole, children obtained an estimated 14 percent of total energy from added sugars. About 35 percent of all children met the DGA added sugars recommendation by limiting added sugars intake to less than 10 percent of daily calories. Among the food categories, sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, and sports and energy drinks, were the top source providing 21.3 percent, 28.7 percent, and 36.5 percent of total added sugars consumed by children 2-5, 6-11, and 12-19 years, respectively. Although the percentage of added sugars contributed by food categories differed among the three age categories of children, the pattern remained the same. Next to the sweetened beverages, sweet bakery products and candy were the top second and third sources of added sugars for all three age categories of children who did not meet the DGA added sugars recommendation. The estimated mean intakes of added sugars increased with age: 44.2 grams, 69.5 grams, and 76.8 grams, respectively. This finding underscores the need for intervention to limit added sugars intake at an early age.

Technical Abstract: The study highlights the top food and beverages sources of added sugars in the diets of children ages 2 to19 years. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 (DGA) recommend that Americans limit their added sugars intake to less than 10 percent of daily calories. What We Eat in America (WWEIA), NHANES 2015-2016, day 1 dietary data and the Food Patterns Equivalents 2015-2016 data were used for the analysis. WWEIA Food Categories were used to group foods and beverages. Sample weights were applied in data analysis to get nationally representative estimates. The study included 2901 children. They were grouped into three age categories: 2-5 years; 6-11 years; and 12-19 years. The children in each age category were further divided into two groups based on whether they met the DGA added sugars recommendation or not. About 35 percent of all children met the DGA recommendation for added sugars. A significantly higher percentage (47 percent) of children 2-5 years compared with the children in the other two age categories (31 percent, each) met the recommendation. Moreover, the estimated mean intakes of added sugars increased with age: 44.2 grams, 69.5 grams, and 76.8 grams, respectively. The percentage of added sugars contributed by food categories differed among the three age categories of children, but the pattern remained the same. Sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, and sports and energy drinks, were the top source providing 21.3 percent, 28.7 percent, and 36.5 percent of total added sugars consumed by children 2-5, 6-11, and 12-19 years, respectively. Children 2-5 years who did not meet the DGA recommendation, obtained 15.7 grams; 6-11 years, 26.8 grams; and 12-19 years 38.0 grams of added sugars from sweetened beverages. The next two top sources were sweet bakery products and candy. This finding underscores the need for intervention to limit added sugars intake, especially from sweetened beverages, at an early age.