Abstract

Background

Consumption of sugars contributes to obesity and various chronic diseases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the World Health Organization recommend that added and free sugar consumption be less than 10% of total energy intake (TEI). However, in Canada, the added and free sugar content of foods and beverages is not documented, so Canadians’ consumption and compliance with the above recommendations are unknown.

Data and methods

This study calculated the added and free sugar content of all 5,374 foods and beverages recorded in the 24-hour dietary recalls of the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey – Nutrition using established procedures. The usual intake of added, free and total sugars was estimated with the National Cancer Institute method.

Results

In 2015, residents of Canada consumed an average of 57.1 g/day of added sugars, 67.1 g/day of free sugars and 105.6 g/day of total sugars. This represented 11.1%, 13.3% and 21.6% of TEI for added, free and total sugar intake, respectively. Among all Canadians, 49.0% consumed less than 10% of TEI from added sugars, while 33.8% consumed less than 10% of TEI from free sugars. The food groups with the highest added and free sugar content were desserts and sweets, breakfast cereals, baked products, beverages, and snacks. Desserts and sweets and beverages were the two main contributors of sugar in the Canadian diet.

Interpretation

The majority of Canadians consumed more added and free sugars than recommended. Estimating added and free sugar content and consumption could help researchers assess the health of Canadians and the economic burden of excessive sugar consumption and could help policy makers articulate intervention targets.

Keywords

Sugars, dietary intake, energy intake, recommended dietary allowances, disease prevention, obesity, chronic disease, public health, Canada

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202001000002-eng

Findings

In Canada, chronic diseases account for 89% of all deaths and more than $80 billion in annual health care costs. Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours, such as healthy eating, has the potential to prevent 80% of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, 40% of cancers, and other chronic diseases. Despite healthy eating recommendations issued by Health Canada, eating habits continue to deteriorate, and overweight prevalence rates continue to increase. [Full article]

Authors

Siyuan Liu, Lalani L. Munasinghe, Arto Ohinmaa and Paul J. Veugelers (paul.veugelers@ualberta.ca) are with the Population Health Intervention Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

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