Beware of sugar addicted kids! Pay attention to the right time to see a doctor

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – Recently, there have been more and more cases of children suffering from diabetes and kidney problems. One of the reasons is overspending sugar.

Based on the Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) in 2023, the level of sugar consumption among children in Indonesia is very high.

Increased sugar consumption in children has many adverse effects on children’s health, including increased rates of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, changes in behavior and mood, and effects on academic performance. .

In mid-2022, the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI_) also released that the incidence of diabetes in children had increased 70-fold compared to 2010.

According to IDAI records, the prevalence of children in Indonesia suffering from diabetes is 2 cases per 100,000 children. Likewise, the prevalence of obesity in children has increased 10-fold from 1975 to 2017.

So how do you spot a child who is addicted or eating too much sugar?

Prof. DR. Dr. Siska Mayasari Lubis explained that children addicted to sugar can behave like people addicted to addictive substances.

“Some of the symptoms include excessive appetite, easy sleep after eating because blood sugar drops quickly,” he explained in a press release, Tuesday (26/11/2024).

Prof. Siska also explained that addiction occurs when children eat sugar, so that the sugar in the blood reaches the brain and stimulates dopamine and opioid hormone receptors in the brain.

Re-exposure to sugar and in excess concentration causes addictive behavior and disrupts the child’s regulatory abilities.

The effect is that when a child eats sugar or carbohydrates that absorb quickly, their blood sugar rises immediately, a sugar spike occurs, shortly after then there will be a sharp decline and fall, a ‘sugar crash’ will occur.

“It’s this sugar crash that makes the child hungry, cranky, angry, and it goes down with more sugar,” he explained.

If you eat too much sugar, as well as being addictive, in the short term children can experience excess nutrition and excess calories. In addition, in the long run, it can cause various non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, kidney disease, and so on.

In addition, in the long term, excessive sugar consumption can affect children’s brain development.

“Because prolonged consumption of sugar can make the brain’s transmission pathways less sensitive, so this reinforces addictive behavior,” he said.

So, how much sugar can we give children?

Based on WHO recommendations, it is recommended that children’s consumption of added sugar be reduced to less than 10% of total energy at all stages of life, and especially less than 5%.

For children aged 2-4 years, it is recommended to give sugar 15-16 grams, this amount can be divided into 4 portions per day.

Then at the age of 4-7 years, what can be given is 18-20 grams, or equivalent to 5 spoons. In addition, at the age of 7-10 years, the recommendation is 22-23 grams or equal to 5.5 teaspoons.

Then at the age of 10-13 years, this is equal to 24-27 grams, this amount is equal to 6.5 teaspoons. Then, at the age of 13-15 years, it is recommended 27-32 grams, which is equal to 8 portions.

In addition, for ages 15-19 years, the permitted intake is 28-37 grams, this is equivalent to 9 spoons.

“If we look at the added sugar content in sweet drinks and juices per 500 ml, for example in the nutritional value table, flavored water usually contains 1-5 teaspoons of sugar ,” he explained.

Then, when should we talk with our child to the doctor?

Prof. Siska explained that children who are prone to sugar addiction and have risk factors for diabetes can be screened starting at age 10 or after the child experiences the onset of puberty .

“So if he has a history after age 10, for example a parent with type 2 diabetes, then for example a child with a body mass index in the 85th percentile, this requires screening for diabetes or other metabolic diseases.” he said.

Then, if the child does not show serious signs such as obesity, he still needs to see a doctor to see the body index, by measuring his weight and height and then plotting it on a curve body index and see what his nutritional status is. Yes.

“So, for example, if you’re worried, you don’t have to wait until your child is 10 years old, you should take him to see a doctor right away,” he said.