DT News - UK - Health experts unite for anti-sugar campaign

Dental Tribune International

Sun. 19 January 2014

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LONDON – In order to tackle and reverse the obesity and diabetic epidemic, health experts from across the globe have formed a group called Action on Sugar. Their aim is to educate the public on the dangers of hidden sugars and raise awareness of the amounts of sugar added to foods and drinks, which is thought to contribute to the growing obesity crisis, as well as dental diseases such as tooth decay.

The initiative calculated that a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in sugar added by the food industry would result in a reduction in calorie intake of approximately 100 kcal. per day and more in those people who are particularly prone to obesity. They expect that this reduction could reverse or halt the obesity epidemic and would have a significant impact in reducing the burden of other chronic diseases, including a number of oral conditions.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), Dr Nigel Carter, OBE, welcomed the campaign given the adverse effects of large amounts of sugar on oral health. “Consuming too many sugary foods and drinks can potentially increase the risk of dental erosion and tooth decay.”

According to the BDHF, the latest figures show that more than three in ten primary schoolchildren show signs of tooth decay, while a third of children aged 12 have visible dental decay.

Aubrey Sheiham, emeritus professor of University College London, who is one of the 18 global expert advisors of Action on Sugar, said: “Free sugars are the main cause of the most common disease in the world: dental caries. If any dietary product were to cause decay of any other part of the body, it would have been severely controlled. Yet, sugars decay the hardest human tissue—teeth—and very little is done about controlling sugars. Therefore, policies should be formulated to develop products, such as baby foods and other food products and drinks, that have no added sugars.”

Action on Sugar is a group of specialists working to reach a consensus with the food industry and government over the harmful effects of a high-sugar diet, and bring about a reduction in the amount of sugar in processed foods.

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