Our team have written a range of blogs for Sugar Awareness Week for NHD Magazine, RSPH, Food Active, CFC and Open Access Government.

Sugar Awareness Week 2022

The need to reduce population intake of free sugars is not a new concept. Evidence has consistently shown that an unhealthy diet; low in fruit, vegetables, pulses, nuts and high in salt, free sugars, saturated and trans fats, is known to be one of the leading global risks of death.  

When we specifically look at a diet high in free sugars, this can often lead to weight gain and dental caries, with overweight and obesity increasing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke and mental health conditions... read more here

Peeling back the layers in order to address obesity 

Obesity is a global pandemic; prevalence has tripled since 1975 and today an estimated 650 million people are living with obesity. Individuals living with obesity tend to suffer from poorer health outcomes, impacting their ability to work, quality of life, and placing a greater burden on their personal finances, the workforce and the economy. Obesity is a complex public health issue, and it is vital we refrain from adopting a blanket approach to address it, especially as some groups are impacted more than others...Let’s peel back these layers to understand the factors which contribute to obesity...read more here

Baby + Toddler Breakfast Items - Why so much sugar in a 'No Added Sugar' product?

To mark Sugar Awareness Week (14th – 20th November 2022), Action on Sugar investigated the nutritional content and packaging of baby and toddler breakfast items. Hidden beneath an array of nutrition and health claims, lies an unsettling truth: the ‘baby aisle’ might not sell the gold standard of food parents think it does.  Introducing a baby into the world of solid foods is an exciting time for many parents, starting with those first few tastes and gradually migrating into 3 meals a day. A healthy varied diet, low in processed foods and high in vitamins and minerals is essential... read more here

Making the Baby Aisle a ‘Safe Space’: Action on Sugar call on government to take action

Childhood is a crucial time to shape food preferences. A healthy diet, high in nutrient-dense foods with plenty of vitamins and minerals, is an important factor in helping children develop a healthy relationship with food, grow to their full potential and thrive in school. Such a diet can also help to prevent overweight, obesity and related illnesses including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes later in life. Worryingly, the reality is far from this ideal. According to the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2018/2019), children aged 1.5-3 years are getting almost a tenth of their daily energy intake from free sugars...read more here

The UK must get serious about sugar reduction

With the release of the National Food Strategy earlier this year, Henry Dimbleby brought attention to the state of the UK’s food system: a system that does not allow us all access to affordable food and drinks that meet dietary guidelines, nor does it nourish us and support our health. Instead, a highly globalised food industry, dominated by a few multinational corporations, extensively produces and markets highly processed and nutrient-poor food and drinks – high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). These products are cheaper than nutrient-dense products and are at the centre of the billions in profit...read more here

The UK must get serious about sugar reduction

Children are consuming more sugar than is recommended and their health is paying the price. Nearly 45,000 hospital operations were performed in August 2020 to remove rotting teeth in children, and the prevalence of children living with obesity doubles from reception to year 6. It is therefore vital we do what is necessary to ensure all children have access to a healthy diet as early as possible. Unfortunately, our latest report on commercial baby products found many companies are exposing children to harmful sugars, with the highest containing 14.5g sugars per serve, equivalent to 4 teaspoons...read more here