Page 154 - GHES-2-1

Global Health Econ Sustain

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Assessment of the intake and sources of total

sugar among Filipino children and adolescents
based on national consumption data

Maria Sofia Amarra * and Francisco de los Reyes 3
1,2
1 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City,
Philippines
2 School of Nutrition, Philippine Women’s University, Manila, Philippines
3 School of Statistics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract
Diabetes is a public health issue in the Philippines, commonly resulting from high
sugar intake. This study examined the consumption and sources of total sugar
among Filipinos aged 7 months to 18 years old using nationally representative data.
Total sugar consumption was estimated using two non-consecutive 24-h recalls and
food composition tables. Mean intakes were converted into usual intakes to reduce
measurement errors using the Software for intake distribution estimation software.
The percentile of usual intakes, energy from sugar consumption, and the amount
of sugar in minimally processed and processed foods for different age groups were
Academic editor: calculated using STATA. Changes in consumption between 2008 and 2013 were also
Mihajlo Jakovljevic M.D. Ph.D. MAE
examined. Children aged 7 – 11 months old consumed 26% of energy from total sugar,
*Corresponding author: higher than that of older age groups. Those in the richest income quintile and living
Maria Sofia Amarra
(mvamarra2@up.edu.ph) in urban areas had the highest percentage intakes. The median intake of total sugar
exceeded 25 g/day, with children aged 1 – 2 years old in the highest income quintile
Citation: Amarra, M.S. & consuming the greatest amount (54.7 g/day). Total sugar comprised 5.3 – 30.9% of
Reyes, F.D.L. (2024). Assessment
of the intake and sources of total energy intake. Processed foods contributed 64 – 75% of total sugar. Food categories
sugar among Filipino children and that contributed the highest amounts (≥10%) of total sugar to different age groups
adolescents based on national were as follows: (i) 7 – 11 months old: milk formula, milk products, baked products,
consumption data. Global Health
Econ Sustain, 2(1): 2060. sugar, and sweets; (ii) 1 – 2 years old: Sugar, sweets, milk formula, milk products,
https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2060 baked products, and non-alcoholic beverages; and (iii) 3 – 18 years old: Sugar, sweets,
Received: October 18, 2023 baked products, and non-alcoholic beverages. From 2008 to 2013, the consumption
of sweetened beverages and baked products increased significantly, while the
Accepted: January 9, 2024
consumption of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables decreased
Published Online: March 14, 2024 significantly. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce added sugar in processed foods,
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). provide unsweetened alternatives, reduce the intake of table sugar, baked goods,
This is an Open-Access article and confections, and increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, Keywords: Sugar intake; Children; Adolescents; Total sugar
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with 1. Introduction
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a global action plan for the
affiliations. prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCD), including the management

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2060