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Patterns of added sugars intake by eating occasion among a nationally representative sample of Australians

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the eating occasion (EO) where most added sugars (AS) were consumed using a nationally representative dataset.

Methods

Plausible dietary data from the Australian Health Survey respondents (n = 8202), collected by a multiple-pass 24-h recall, were analyzed. EO was self-reported during the recall. AS content of the foods reported was estimated using a previously published method. Proportion of daily AS consumed (%ASdaily) and the main food sources, at each EO, were calculated. Differences between children/adolescents and adults were tested by one-way ANOVA. Further stratification by age group and sex was performed.

Results

The majority of the %ASdaily came from non-main meal occasions (NMMOs; 48.3 %, 95 % CI 47.5–49.0 %), followed by breakfast/brunch (20.6 %, 95 % CI 20.1–21.1 %). Children and adolescents consumed more %ASdaily during NMMOs compared with adults (52 vs. 47 %; p < 0.001), while girls/women consumed more %ASdaily during NMMO compared with boys (54 vs. 49 %; p = 0.002) and men (50 vs. 45 %; p < 0.001). Sugar-sweetened beverages were the top contributors to AS at lunch, dinner and NMMOs, while sugar and sweet spreads were the top contributor at breakfast/brunch. Other top contributors at NMMOs included “other foods,” ice cream and cakes and biscuits, pastries and batter-based products.

Conclusion

Australians consumed nearly half of %ASdaily during NMMOs, most of which came from high-sugar energy-dense nutrient-poor foods. While the common perception that most AS come from snacks holds true, our results suggest that main meals are also important intervention targets.

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Acknowledgments

The original data of the NNPAS were collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The authors declare that those who carried out the original analysis and collection of the data bear no responsibility for further analysis or interpretation included in the manuscript.

Authors’ contribution

Both authors were involved in the conception of the study. JCYL performed the statistical analyses. Both authors were involved in the interpretation of the data and co-wrote the manuscript. JCYL has primary responsibility of the content of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Jimmy Chun Yu Louie & Anna M. Rangan

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Hong Kong, 1 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR

    Jimmy Chun Yu Louie

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  1. Jimmy Chun Yu Louie
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Correspondence to Jimmy Chun Yu Louie.

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Louie, J.C.Y., Rangan, A.M. Patterns of added sugars intake by eating occasion among a nationally representative sample of Australians. Eur J Nutr 57, 137–154 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1303-0

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