Experts highlight that early exposure to sugary foods can influence lifelong taste preferences and increase health risks, emphasising the importance of a gradual approach to reducing sugar consumption to safeguard long-term well-being.
A strong urge for something sweet after a meal can seem harmless, but doctors say it may be a sign that the body has grown used to higher levels of sugar. Spesialis gizi klinik dr. Igus Ulfa Yaze said repeated exposure to sweet foods and drinks, especially from early childhood, can train taste preferences and make sugar harder to cut back later.
That pattern often starts at home. A survey cited by VIVA and linked to Universitas Islam Bandung found that 67.6 per cent of parents gave sweetened condensed milk to toddlers as a stand-in for milk. Health experts note that sweetened condensed milk is not designed to replace milk in a child’s diet and contains a high amount of sugar, which can reinforce a preference for sweet tastes from an early age.
The long-term risks are well documented. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says excessive added sugar intake is associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Healthline and other medical guides also link high intakes of sugary drinks and foods to fatty liver, tooth decay and poorer overall diet quality, particularly when sugar takes the place of more nutritious foods.
Yaze said people should not try to quit sugar all at once if they want to reduce their intake. A sudden stop can make the body struggle to adjust, and some people may experience cravings, headaches, irritability or fatigue as they pull back. Medical sources say a gradual approach works better: cut back slowly, choose whole foods, avoid sugary drinks and read labels carefully to spot hidden sugar in everyday products.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
