Hanoi (VNA) – EachVietnamese currently consumes about 46.5 grammes of free sugar every day, whichis close to the maximum daily intake of 50 grammes and almost doubles the recommendeddaily intake of under 25 grammes.

The information was revealed at a workshop inHanoi on June 22 that announced the World Health Organisation (WHO)’srecommendations for controlling sugar-sweetened beverages to preventnon-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Deputy Director of the Health Ministry’sDepartment of Preventive Medicine Truong Dinh Bac said an unbalanced diet withmuch salt, sugar-containing products and saturated-fat and little vegetablesand fruits, along with a lack of physical activities are risk factors of NCDs.Notably, the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is growing, especially indeveloping countries, he said.

In Vietnam, overweight and obesity rates areincreasing rapidly, he noted, elaborating that about 25 percent of the adultsare overweight or obese. The rate of obese children under five years old soaredfrom 0.6 percent 2000 to 5.3 percent in 2015.

According to the National Hospital ofEndocrinology, the rate of persons with diabetes doubled from 2.7 percent in2002 to 5.4 percent in 2012. The lifelong care for and treatment of thesepatients will be a burden on the economy.

At the workshop, a WHO representative saidsugar-sweetened beverages are the main source of sugar in meals, and theconsumption of these drinks has been on the rise on almost all nations and,especially, among children. If a child drink a can or bottle of sugar-sweetenedbeverages in one day, his or her intake of free sugars has been much beyond therecommended level as one can of soft drink usually contains about 36 grammes offree sugar.

The WHO recommended that the intake of freesugar, including monosaccharides and disaccharides added tofoods, or sugar naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruitjuices should account for not higher than 10 percent of each person’s diet andbe reduced to 5 percent of the daily calories, equivalent to about 25 grammesof free sugar or six teaspoons.

The WHO urged countries to boost communicationsto raise public awareness of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and controlthe advertising of these products, especially at schools. They also need toencourage producers to put health warning labels on sugar containing productsand hike tax on these products to raise budget revenue and limit abuse.-VNA