A Senior Registrar in Paediatrics at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Usman Ibrahim, gave the warning in Lagos, stressing that parents should not only consider the sugar they deliberately add to meals but also the hidden sugars contained in processed foods, biscuits, snacks, sweetened beverages and fruit juices.
Ibrahim, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, explained that free sugar included table sugar as well as sugars added to processed foods and drinks, fruit juices and honey.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that free sugar should account for less than 10 per cent of an individual’s daily energy intake, including for children and adults.
According to him, regularly consuming sugar beyond recommended levels could result in excessive energy intake and weight gain, eventually increasing a child’s risk of obesity and related health conditions.
“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 said.
The paediatrician also warned that a diet high in sugary foods could have an indirect effect on children’s growth and development by reducing their appetite for more nutritious foods.
He explained that when children frequently consume sugary snacks and drinks, they may become less interested in foods that provide essential nutrients needed for healthy physical and cognitive development.
Warning over sugar in children’s diets
Ibrahim said parents should be particularly cautious about the amount of added sugar given to younger children.
“The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that children under two years should not have food and drinks with added sugar.
“It recommends 100 per cent fruit juice for children from age one,” he said.
He, however, advised parents to remain conscious of portion sizes and the overall amount of sugar children consume, particularly because sweetened foods and drinks can contain substantial quantities of sugar that may not be immediately obvious.
Ibrahim said parents should make it a habit to check food labels before purchasing snacks and processed foods for their children, noting that sugar could be present in products that parents might not immediately regard as particularly sweet.
He identified sweetened biscuits, drinks, snacks and other processed foods as some of the common sources of hidden sugar in children’s diets.
According to him, obesity develops when the amount of energy consumed exceeds the amount the body uses. The excess energy is subsequently stored as fat.
“Prolonged accumulation of body fat could result in excessive weight gain and obesity, increasing children’s risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes,” he said.
Dental health also at risk
Beyond weight-related complications, Ibrahim warned that excessive sugar consumption could damage children’s teeth.
He explained that bacteria naturally present in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that gradually erode the teeth, potentially resulting in dental caries.
Untreated dental caries, he said, could progress to cavities, infections and persistent pain, and in severe cases result in permanent tooth loss.
The paediatrician noted that children’s natural preference for sweet tastes could make it difficult for parents to limit their sugar consumption.
He said humans were biologically attracted to sweet foods and pointed out that breast milk was naturally sweet.
According to him, sweet foods could also create pleasurable sensations, while some parents inadvertently reinforce children’s preference for sugary products by giving sweets, chocolates or sweetened drinks as rewards.
Parents urged to promote healthier choices
Ibrahim advised parents to establish regular meal patterns for their children and encourage them to drink water rather than relying on sugary beverages.
He said regular meals could help reduce children’s cravings for sugary snacks and drinks, while water should remain the preferred drink for hydration.
The paediatrician recommended healthier alternatives, including different varieties of whole fruits, plain yoghurt and age-appropriate nuts or peanut butter.
He also urged parents to lead by example, noting that children were more likely to adopt healthy eating habits when such practices were consistently demonstrated at home.
“Parents should read food labels and choose snacks containing little sugar, while also leading by example through healthier eating habits,” he advised.
He further called on schools to play a greater role in promoting healthy diets among children by educating pupils about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.
According to him, schools could also introduce policies to regulate the availability of sugary snacks and foods during celebrations and other school activities.
Rising concern over Type 2 diabetes
Ibrahim also explained the difference between the major forms of diabetes, saying diabetes mellitus occurs when blood glucose levels become abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin available.
He said Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin.
Children with Type 1 diabetes therefore require lifelong insulin treatment to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin and may eventually fail to produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels.
The paediatrician said Type 2 diabetes, once regarded largely as a condition affecting adults, was increasingly being diagnosed among children, with overweight and obesity contributing to the growing risk.
He explained that excess body weight could contribute to insulin resistance, making it increasingly difficult for the body to regulate blood glucose effectively.
Ibrahim identified excessive thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger and unexplained weight loss among the common symptoms of diabetes in children.
He therefore urged parents to seek medical attention if they noticed such symptoms rather than dismissing them as ordinary changes in a child’s behaviour or appetite.
The paediatrician emphasised that prevention should begin early, particularly through healthier diets and more active lifestyles.
He advised parents to reduce children’s consumption of sugary foods and drinks, encourage healthier eating habits and limit sedentary behaviour.
According to him, adopting healthy lifestyle practices from childhood could help prevent excessive weight gain and reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related complications later in life.