A Senior Registrar in Paediatrics at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Usman Ibrahim, has warned parents against giving children excessive amounts of sugar, saying it could increase their risk of obesity, diabetes and other serious health complications.
Ibrahim gave the warning in Lagos during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
He explained that “free sugar” was not limited to table sugar but also included sugars added to processed foods, soft drinks, fruit juices and honey.
According to him, the World Health Organisation recommends that free sugar should account for less than 10 per cent of daily energy intake for both children and adults.
The paediatrician said excessive sugar consumption could result in excessive weight gain and obesity, which are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
He also warned that consuming too many sugary foods could make children lose interest in more nutritious meals needed for healthy growth and development.
Ibrahim said the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children below two years should not be given foods or drinks containing added sugar.
He urged parents to be particularly careful with processed snacks and drinks, noting that some contain hidden sugars.
The paediatrician explained that obesity occurs when the body receives more energy from food than it uses, causing the excess energy to be stored as body fat.
He said prolonged accumulation of body fat could increase the likelihood of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes, particularly among overweight and obese children.
Beyond obesity, Ibrahim identified dental caries as another major consequence of excessive sugar consumption.
He explained that bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that gradually damage the teeth, potentially resulting in cavities, infections, pain and, in severe cases, permanent tooth loss.
According to him, children naturally have a preference for sweet tastes, while some parents may unintentionally encourage excessive sugar consumption by using sweets and sugary drinks as rewards.
To reduce children’s cravings for sugary foods and drinks, Ibrahim advised parents to provide regular meals and encourage children to drink more water.
He recommended healthier alternatives, including whole fruits, plain yoghurt and age-appropriate nuts or peanut butter.
The doctor also urged parents to read food labels carefully and choose products containing little added sugar.
He advised parents to lead by example by adopting healthier eating habits and encouraged schools to educate children about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.
Ibrahim further called on schools to regulate sugary snacks and drinks, particularly during celebrations.
On diabetes, he explained that the condition occurs when blood glucose becomes abnormally high because the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
He said Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin, making affected children dependent on lifelong insulin treatment.
Type 2 diabetes, he explained, occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin and may eventually fail to produce enough of the hormone.
The paediatrician noted that Type 2 diabetes was increasingly being diagnosed in children, with overweight and obesity contributing to insulin resistance.
He listed excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger and unexplained weight loss among the symptoms parents should watch out for.
Ibrahim urged families to adopt healthier lifestyles, limit sugary foods and drinks and reduce sedentary behaviour to help prevent excessive weight gain and lower children’s risk of Type 2 diabetes.
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