Children's Health

CDC Report: Kids Still Eat Too Much Added Sugar

Added Sugars: Perspective

"The amount of sugar consumed is still extraordinarily high," says Robert Lustig, MD, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. He has proposed that sugar be regulated. He reviewed the report findings for WebMD.

He notes that the amount of added sugar eaten by the 6- to 11-year-olds was not much different than that eaten by the 12- to 19-year-olds. That is a concern, he says, since the older children would need more calories overall, on average.

"The amount is still so far over what any rational physician, dietitian, or government agency would have us be eating," he says.

"It's still a major problem."

Added Sugars: Cut-Down Strategies

Parents can help their kids cut down on added sugar intake, says Paul Pestano, a research analyst with the Environmental Working Group. He co-authored a recent report on sugary children's cereals.

"Try to limit processed foods," he says, "because that is mostly where it comes from."

On this list are kids' sugary cereals, granola bars, cookies, and candies. Jams and syrups can also have high amounts of added sugar, he says.

"If you are shopping for canned fruit, look for ones that are canned in water and not syrup or juice," he says.

Also, cut down on juice and soda.