What is causing our over consumption of sugar and how can we reverse this trend?

A report published by Public Health England called Sugar Reduction. The Evidence for Action says we are eating too much sugar and it is bad for our health.1 Rising sugar consumption is fuelling increasing rates of obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tooth decay, and some cancers23; and treating obesity costs the NHS £5.1bn (€7bn; $7.7bn) every year.1

The most striking advice from the report is that our recommended intake of free sugars should be just 5% of our daily calories, which is half the amount previously recommended by the World Health Organization.14 This equates to about 25 g (six level teaspoons) a day for the average adult, less than the amount of sugar in a Snickers bar. As well as reducing the sugar content in foods and drinks, the report also recommends changes to the way sugary foods are advertised and discounted. The report says, “By meeting these recommendations within 10 years we would not only improve an individual’s quality of life but could save the NHS around £500m every year.”1

To meet this objective drastic changes are needed. Currently, the average Briton consumes nearly three times the recommended 25 g of free sugars each day, and nearly two thirds of the UK population are defined as either overweight or obese.3