Sugar in our diets: what's the risk?

By Paul McArdle, British Dietetic Association dietitian and diabetes specialist

The newly launched Action on Sugar Campaign is pushing for a reduction of 20-30% in the amount of sugars in our diet – sugar hidden in products we buy and the sugar we add to our food and drink. Can our sweet addiction really put us at risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes?

It's true most of us are consuming too much sugar, and much of the sugar we consume is already in pre-packaged or convenience foods.

Although sugar has fewer than half the calories of fat, it's very easy to consume large quantities of it, especially in the form of drinks, which doesn't leave you feeling very full or satisfied. Often foods with added sugar provide very few nutritional benefits and, therefore, 'empty calories'.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) supports the call by the campaign group Action on Sugar for the food industry to reduce the sugar added to foods. If successful, the reduction in sugar may contribute to cutting the number of calories people are eating.

This is the main problem: the sugar we eat is part of a diet which is already too high in calories – indeed it may be contributing to this, and therefore to the increasing numbers of people who are overweight and obese. Small amounts of sugar, as part of a balanced diet and in people who are successfully managing their weight, is not necessarily a problem. Moreover, there are no research studies that have proved eating sugar causes type 2 diabetes. However, there are studies that look at links between dietary patterns and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

One such link is sugar-sweetened beverages. A very large study of men found an association between drinking sugar-sweetened beverages and developing type 2 diabetes. Over a 20-year period, it showed a 24% increased risk for those with the highest intakes of these drinks. This doesn't demonstrate they are the cause of the diabetes in the study population, as different types of research studies would be needed to determine that. Watch this space.

Traffic light labelling gets the green light

By Sioned Quirke, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association

Traditionally, companies have used different nutrition labelling systems on the front of their packaging, making it difficult for consumers to check and compare products – until now.

From today (19 June), a standardised system will roll out which, although voluntary, is a major step towards helping us make informed choices about the foods we buy.

Consistency is key when comparing any type of information. This new system allows us to check how healthy (or not) a product is in a simple and clear way.

It’s a simple but effective format, using the words "high", "medium" and "low" colour coded respectively in red, amber and green to let people know how much fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories the product contains. Such at-a-glance labelling will make identifying healthy options quicker and easier than the old method of having to fathom the hard-to-read tables on the reverse of a product.

The labels will also provide information on guideline daily amounts (GDAs) for different nutrients, so consumers will have an idea of how that particular product will contribute to their daily diet.

We all have a responsibility to help improve the health of our nation as we see obesity, diabetes and hypertension increase. This step made by the government and the food industry demonstrates a commitment to address these issues. And with the increasing amount of processed and pre-prepared foods we are consuming, this intervention couldn’t come at a better time. This is a voluntary scheme, but we are hopeful more manufacturers will join the standardised labeling movement.

Other reactions to the news:

Anna Soubry, public health minister, says: “The UK already has the largest number of products using a front-of-pack label in Europe, but we know that people get confused by the variety of labels used. Research shows that, of all the current schemes, people like this label the most and they can use the information to make healthier choices. By having all major retailers and manufacturers signed up to the consistent label, we will all be able to see at a glance what is in our food. This is why I want to see more manufacturers signing up and using the label.” 

Robin Hewings, head of policy at Diabetes UK, says: “The government’s decision to announce a colour-coded food labelling system is an important step in the effort to reduce the number of people in the UK who are overweight or obese. These people are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic health conditions, so need easy access to information that can help them lead healthier lives and reduce their risk.

Effective front-of-pack food labelling also helps people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes manage their condition, as a diet high in fat, salt and sugar increases their risk of developing serious complications such as blindness, amputations and stroke. However, EU law requires a voluntary approach, which means there are still large parts of the food market not covered by traffic light labelling. It means we are missing opportunities for people to understand what is in the food they buy. We want to see all retailers and food manufacturers adopting the recommended labelling scheme and actively promoting it as a way for people to make healthier eating choices.”