A Senior Registrar in Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Usman Ibrahim, has warned that excessive consumption of free sugar could expose children to obesity and other health complications.
Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday that free sugar included table sugar, added sugars in processed foods, drinks, fruit juices and honey.
He said the World Health Organisation recommended that free sugar should constitute less than 10 per cent of daily energy intake for children and adults.
According to him, excessive sugar consumption could cause excessive weight gain and obesity, which are risk factors for heart disease, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
He added that excessive sugar intake could affect children’s growth by reducing their interest in nutritious foods necessary for proper growth and development.
