Patterns of added sugars intake by eating occasion among a nationally representative sample of Australians.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the eating occasion (EO) where most added sugars (AS) were consumed using a nationally representative dataset.


METHODS
Plausible dietary data from the Australian Health Survey respondents (n = 8202), collected by a multiple-pass 24-h recall, were analyzed. EO was self-reported during the recall. AS content of the foods reported was estimated using a previously published method. Proportion of daily AS consumed (%ASdaily) and the main food sources, at each EO, were calculated. Differences between children/adolescents and adults were tested by one-way ANOVA. Further stratification by age group and sex was performed.


RESULTS
The majority of the %ASdailycame from non-main meal occasions (NMMOs; 48.3 %, 95 % CI 47.5-49.0 %), followed by breakfast/brunch (20.6 %, 95 % CI 20.1-21.1 %). Children and adolescents consumed more %ASdailyduring NMMOs compared with adults (52 vs. 47 %; p < 0.001), while girls/women consumed more %ASdailyduring NMMO compared with boys (54 vs. 49 %; p = 0.002) and men (50 vs. 45 %; p < 0.001). Sugar-sweetened beverages were the top contributors to AS at lunch, dinner and NMMOs, while sugar and sweet spreads were the top contributor at breakfast/brunch. Other top contributors at NMMOs included "other foods," ice cream and cakes and biscuits, pastries and batter-based products.


CONCLUSIONS
Australians consumed nearly half of %ASdailyduring NMMOs, most of which came from high-sugar energy-dense nutrient-poor foods. While the common perception that most AS come from snacks holds true, our results suggest that main meals are also important intervention targets.
School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. jimmyl@hku.hk.|School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Hong Kong, 1 Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. jimmyl@hku.hk.
Jimmy Chun Yu
JCY
Louie
School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Anna M
AM
Rangan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012737:Sex Factors; D062410:Snacks
D019422:Dietary Sucrose
Added sugars; Australians; Eating occasion