A survey in Indonesia reveals high daily sugar intake among young children, prompting health experts to advocate gradual reduction strategies to prevent long-term health issues.
Sweetened foods and drinks have become a growing concern for parents in Indonesia, where experts say children are being exposed to high levels of sugar from an early age. A survey from the Islamic University of Bandung found that 67.6% of parents surveyed gave sweetened condensed milk as a daily substitute for milk, a practice that health specialists say can distort children’s understanding of proper nutrition and encourage a taste for very sweet foods from toddlerhood.
Dr Igus Ulfa Yaze, a clinical nutrition specialist, said frequent exposure to sugary foods can trigger sharp spikes in blood sugar and help create a pattern of dependency. He warned that what many families dismiss as ordinary snacking may in fact be a sign that a child is becoming accustomed to sugar-driven reward signals. One early warning sign, he said, is when a child feels unsatisfied after a meal unless it ends with something sweet, or becomes irritable when sugar is withheld.
Health guidance from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the American Academy of Pediatrics echoes that concern, noting that added sugar offers calories without meaningful nutrition and can increase the risk of obesity, tooth decay and longer-term metabolic illness. Alodokter likewise warns that frequent intake of sweet foods in children may contribute to unhealthy weight gain and dental problems, while also crowding out more nourishing foods.
Rather than cutting sugar out abruptly, Yaze recommends a gradual approach. Small reductions in sweetness, made consistently over time, allow a child’s taste buds and nervous system to adjust without the mood changes that can follow sudden restrictions. That advice aligns with practical guidance from child-health groups, which recommend replacing sugary drinks with water or milk, limiting juice, and using fruit and vegetables to satisfy sweet cravings in a more balanced way. For parents, the key message is simple: reducing sugar slowly may be more sustainable than imposing a sudden ban, and it may help lower the risk of later health problems.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
