This document provides information on the risks of consuming too much sugar. It defines key terms like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It then discusses the links between a high sugar diet and increased risk of these conditions, citing statistics from studies. Specific risks are outlined, such as those associated with sugary drinks. The document also covers how to identify sugars on nutrition labels and recommends daily limits. The overall message is that reducing sugar intake can help avoid health risks.

1. Sugar.
Rethink Your Drink.
By: Candida Khan
Dietetic Intern 2015

3. Objectives
After the nutrition activity, the youth group
will be able to:
•Identify the impact sugar has on diabetes,
high blood pressure and obesity risk
•Read the sugar content on a nutrition label
•List drinks that are high in sugar.

4. Define sugar
•It can be defined as a sweet
substance that comes in a brown or
white crystal formation.
•The focus will be on artificial
sugars that are manufactured and
not those from fruits.

5. Why this topic important
•Too much sugar in the diet can be
dangerous.
•Not knowing what items or foods that are
high in sugar can put you at an increased
risk since you may eat or drink a high sugar
item and not be aware of it.
•Sugar can be hidden in the item, but not
from the label.

6. Risk of a high sugar diet
•Diabetes
•High blood pressure
•Obesity

7. Diabetes

8. •Diabetes is a condition where
sugar in the blood becomes
uncontrolled. It can either be too
high or too low at times.
•The body therefore cannot regulate
sugar in the body.
Define Diabetes

9. •According to the White Paper, diabetes affects
an estimated 150,000 people in T&T and the
numbers are growing, with 1,000 new cases
every year.
•It disclosed that the numbers affected with the
disease in T&T represent an adult diabetes
prevalence of around 12-13 per cent (Guardian
News Paper 2012).
Statistics on Diabetes

10. •People who consume sugary drinks
regularly—1 to 2 cans a day or more—
have a 26% greater risk of developing
type 2 diabetes than people who rarely
have such drinks (Harvard Chan,
School of Public Health, 2015).
Statistics on Diabetes

12. High Blood Pressure

13. •High blood pressure is a condition where
there is an intense pressure or force of
blood in your body.
•There is a link between diabetes and high
blood pressure due to the high sugar levels
in the blood.
•Circulation problems can occur and can be
damaging to the body.
Define High Blood Pressure

14. •A study published by the University
of the West Indies (UWI) on
overweight children showed findings
of a high risk of development of
diabetes and hypertension among our
younger ones (Express, 2014).
Statistics on High Blood Pressure

15. •About 70 million American adults (29%)
have high blood pressure—that’s 1 in every
3 adults.
•High blood pressure costs the nation $46
billion each year. This total includes the
cost of health care services, medications to
treat high blood pressure, and missed days
of work (Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2015).
Statistics on High Blood Pressure

16. Obesity

17. •Obesity is a condition where there is
excess weight on a person. There is
basically a high amount of stored fat in the
body.
•To classify someone as obese,
measurements are taken to calculate BMI
or IBW).
•This can put you at risk for type 2
diabetes.
Define Obesity

18. •Cutting back on sugary drinks can help in
weight control.
•Studies in children and adults have found
that reducing sugary drink consumption can
lead to better weight control among those
who are initially overweight (HarvardChan,
School of public Health 2015).
Statistics on Obesity

19. •Two out of three adults and one out of
three children in the United States are
overweight or obese.
•Rising consumption of sugary drinks has
been a major contributor to the obesity
epidemic (HarvardChan, School of public
Health 2015).
Statistics on Obesity

20. Sugar and the Body
•Sugar can be called ‘empty calories.’
There are no vitamins, minerals, proteins or
essential fats in sugar.
•It is pure energy or carbohydrates. In the
blood stream, sugar is broken down into
simpler sugars. It can be stored or turned
into fat when in excess. This is where
problems occur.

21. How much sugar do we need?
•The American Heart Association
recommends limiting the amount
of added sugars you consume to no
more than half of your daily calorie
allowance.
•About 6 teaspoons per day for women
and 9 teaspoons per day for men.

22. Men
Women
How much sugar do we need?

23. Labels
Names for added sugars on labels include:
•Brown sugar
•Corn sweetener
•Corn syrup
•Fruit juice concentrates
•High-fructose corn syrup
•Invert sugar
•Syrup
•Malt sugar
•Molasses
•Raw sugar
•Sugar
•Sugar molecules ending in
“ose” (dextrose, fructose,
glucose, lactose, maltose,
sucrose)

24. What you see on labels
•Sugar-Free – less than 0.5 g of sugar per serving
•Reduced Sugar or Less Sugar – at least 25
percent less sugars per serving compared to a
standard serving size of the traditional variety
•No Added Sugars or Without Added Sugars – no
sugars or sugar-containing ingredient such as juice
or dry fruit is added during processing
•Low Sugar – not defined or allowed as a claim on
food labels

25. Display

26. Evaluation

27. Conclusion
•Conclude with a brief summary of
what was done.

28. Bibliography
•http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/sugar
y-drinks-fact-sheet/
•http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-
basics/statistics/?referrer=https://www.facebook.co
m/
•http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Child-
obesity-rate-in-TT-alarming-243277131.html
•http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-01-16/khan-
tt-must-face-obesity-epidemic
•http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_shee