Nearly Half of Americans Are Trying to Cut Sugar Intake

According to a recent poll, a significant trend in American diets is a decrease in sugar consumption. Letterhead Food Research asked 1,061 Americans about their dietary habits, including whether they agreed with statements such as “I am cooking more with raw ingredients” and “I am eating less meat.” The number one habit Americans are trying to cultivate is eating less sugar. Nearly half of Americans, at 48 percent, claimed that they’re trying to eat less sugar.¹

American Sugar Consumption Across Decades

Americans ate 30 percent more sugars on a daily basis  in 2010 than in 1977, according to a study conducted by the Obesity Society.² This means that the top 20 percent of American adults are consuming 721 calories from added sugars per day, and the top 20 percent of American children are consuming 673 calories from sugar every day.

This upswing has led to widening waistlines and a surge in type 2 diabetes. The fact that Americans are now trying to cut sugar means that we could see a significant decrease in type 2 diabetes in the future.

A Global Goal

Turns out, it’s not just Americans that want to significantly cut their sugar intake. According to the same survey, sugar is falling out of favor all around the world. Forty-four percent of consumers in the UK want to cut sugar, as well as 47 percent of French citizens, 48 percent of Chinese citizens, and with Brazilians taking the cake – or rather, pushing it away – at a whopping 65 percent of Brazilians trying to cut sugar.³

The Food and Beverage Industry’s Response

Since more and more research has focused on sugar, a corresponding increase of people across the world are aware of the health effects of sugar, causing the food and beverage industry to change some things.

Companies across the world have made efforts to cut sugar, including Nestle, which has cut 30 percent of sugars from their UK-based candy brand, “Rowntree’s Randoms.” Aldi, too, has rolled out sugar-free confectionery products containing rhubarb juice and plant extracts. French company “Système U” has added new sugar-free candies to their product line, and even Russel Stover – the iconic candy maker – now has sugar free dark chocolate bites that contain Splenda.

Fighting Sugar Addiction

Some signs you might be addicted to sugar? You experience cravings, you lose control around sugar, and you end up eating too much when you do decide to indulge. Why is this? Your brain views sugar as a reward, and you can experience a surge of happy energy as a result. It’s what we call a “sugar buzz”, most commonly noted in children.

For those who are used to a high sugar intake, it can be hard to kick the habit – especially in a world where you can hardly walk into work without being confronted by donuts and candy jars. When you really struggle to pass up that donut, know that the rest of the world is having the same problem. Thirty-two percent of survey respondents reported that “I’m tempted by the products I’m trying to avoid.”

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.

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Rebecca McCusker

Rebecca has been freelance writing since she was eighteen years old, and she is especially passionate about health and wellness topics. She lives in the Ohio countryside with her husband and two Australian Shepherds, and when she's not writing, she's playing piano and guitar in her folk-rock band, Linden Hollow.

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