The Role of Added Sugars in Pediatric Obesity

This article provides an overview for pediatricians and other health care providers of the role of added sugars (caloric sweeteners) in the diets of US children and the recent evidence linking added sugar consumption to increased obesity and other chronic disease risk in children. The hypothesized biologic mechanisms for these associations are summarized, and evidence-based strategies are provided that may help children and their families to reduce their sugar consumption. Primary health care providers play an important role in assessing the added sugar intake of their patients and in providing nutrition and behavior change counselling to high-risk children and their families.