Taking sweets from a child is supposed to be so simple that the phrase has even become a well-known saying. But how easy is it to wean your kids off the sugary stuff?
The TV cartoon The Simpsons once brilliantly satirised the power of sugar. While a sugar-ban in the fictional town of Springfield saw the children writhing in agony with withdrawal symptoms, Homer Simpson cashed-in with a bootlegging racket. It’s an amusing idea for a storyline, but one that also reflects hard facts where child health is concerned.
In January 2016, Public Health England (PHE) reported that British children were consuming three times as much sugar as they should — roughly 22kgs per year. That’s the average body weight of a five-year-old. And although the health problems relating to excess sugar are well-documented, it isn’t just becoming fat that’s the issue — it’s where sugar encourages our bodies to store it. Excess sugar has been shown to contribute to the build-up of harmful fat around the vital organs, which is linked to developing illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some cancers.1 This is why the government’s plan to introduce a tax on sugary drinks by 2018 was welcomed by campaigners — the most high-profile being celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who had already introduced a levy on sugary drinks in his restaurants.
But critics argue that the reality of the problem is that sugar isn’t just found in fizzy drinks. Sugar is everywhere; and short of putting blinkers on your child or never letting them leave the house again (no, we don’t recommend that!) how can you stop them from wanting it?
Nutritionist Gabriella Clarke of Mind Health Movement advocates looking objectively at sugar, cutting down gently, and replacing blatantly sugary items with healthier choices.
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