Media Package: Health Effects of Sugar Consumption

Running head: MEDIA PACKAGE: HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUGAR CONSUMPTION
MEDIA PACKAGE: HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUGAR CONSUMPTION
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MEDIA PACKAGE: HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUGAR CONSUMPTION1
Media Release
Caroline Miller
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Email: [e-mail]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 28/03/2020
TO SWEETEN OR NOT TO SWEETEN? – A MODERN DAY TRAGEDY
OF THE ‘HEALTH HALO EFFECT’ OF SUGARY BEVERAGES
Researchers Miller and colleagues shed new light on the shockingly high consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverage cross the children and youth of Australia
Adelaide, South Australia: Today, a research published by the South Australian Health and
Medical Research Institute, presented interesting finding regarding the ideas and opinions which
motivate parents and young adults of Australia to consume SSB like soft drinks, energy drinks or
processed juices.
The results from 59 Australians revealed that a majority of people believed consuming SSB in
moderate amounts was a ‘treat’ to ensure that they consume a ‘balanced diet’. Shockingly,
participants admitted to being aware of the harmful effects of sugar but still continued to
consume in ‘moderation’ under influence of a ‘health halo’ for popularly advertised health
benefits (‘natural’) of SSBs like packaged fruit juices.
To further gain an understanding of participants’ opinions, the study found that:
 Australians had limited knowledge on the long term damages to health caused by sugar.

MEDIA PACKAGE: HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUGAR CONSUMPTION2
 Australians who were aware believed that consuming SSB in ‘moderation’ would not
harm, but rather improve the intake of a ‘balanced diet’.
 Australians admitted to being influenced by advertisements like ‘no added sugar’, ‘sugar
free’ and ‘natural’ when purchasing SSBs.
 Australians believed that consuming SSBs after exercise was equivalent to a well-
deserved ‘treat’.
About the Study: Caroline Miller is a research at the South Australian Health and Medical
Research Institute. The findings by Miller and colleagues project the low levels of health
awareness across Australian youth and parents of children. This research indicates the immediate
need for public health organizations to address this lack of public awareness considering the
harmful health effects of sugar.

MEDIA PACKAGE: HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUGAR CONSUMPTION3
Fact Sheet
In addition to the qualitative study by Miller et al., (2019), the following facts and
research information must be considered to understand the public health issue of high sugar and
SSB consumption in Australia:
 The Australian Dietary Guidelines categorize sugar sweetened beverages and foods with
added sugars as discretionary foods with negligible nutritional content which are non-
essential for daily life sustenance (Department of Health, 2013).
 The Australian Dietary Guidelines strongly recommend the need to limit the intake of
discretionary foods and beverages containing added sugars like biscuits, cakes, pastries,
cordials, fruit and energy drinks and sugar sweetened cordials (Department of Health,
2013).
 The Australian Dietary Guidelines also denote that the excessive consumption of sugar
sweetened beverages can increase the risk of obesity and weight gain across individuals
(Department of Health, 2013).
 Excessive consumption of sugar paves the way for weight gain in individuals which in
turn, negatively impacts the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels and thus, fall
prey to chronic metabolic conditions like diabetes (Sánchez-Romero et al., 2016).
 According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), each individual in Australia was
estimated to engage in the consumption of approximately 14 teaspoons or 60 grams of
sugar on a daily basis. Of these approximately 10% of Australian adolescents were
reported to consume discretionary foods containing added sugars on a daily basis, which
amounts to 38 teaspoons or 160 grams of sugar consumption on a daily basis. This