A recent study published in journal Science reveals that limiting added sugar intake during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life can reduce the risk of chronic diseases significantly.
Analyzing data from the U.K. Biobank, researchers found that children exposed to sugar limitations in utero and during their first 1,000 days of life had up to a 35% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and 20% lower chance of hypertension in adulthood. Moreover, if diagnosed, the onset of these conditions were delayed by four years for diabetes and two years for hypertension.
The study, led by researchers Tadeja Gracner (University of Southern California), Claire Boone (McGill University), and Paul Gertler (University of California Berkeley), utilized a natural experiment from the end of WWII sugar rationing in the U.K. Children born before the end of sugar rationing in 1953 experienced lower sugar intake, while those born afterward faced double the sugar consumption.
Gertler adds, “Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options. We should also tax and regulate the marketing of sugary foods targeted at kids.”
With early-life sugar exposure identified as a key risk factor, this research underscores the importance of dietary guidelines, aligning with WHO recommendations that children under two avoid added sugars. Adult intake should ideally be limited to 7 teaspoons daily, with a maximum of 12 teaspoons (50g) per day.
“The study points to reducing sugar intake both during pregnancy and early childhood as this can have life-long impact on human health”, said Dr Arun Gupta, convener, Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest.
Experts call for broader awareness and policy changes, emphasizing sugar’s impact on lifelong health and the role of early dietary habits in chronic disease prevention.
