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Your Kids Are Eating Way Too Much Sugar, AHA Says

David Oliver

Parents, the data on sugar is in. And your kids aren't going to be happy.

The American Heart Association released a first-ever scientific statement Monday addressing children's consumption of added sugar and how it affects heart health. The statement, published in Circulation, recommended that children and teens have no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day (about 25 grams or 100 calories), and no more than 8ounces of sugary drinks per week. The AHA is also advising that kids under age 2 avoid added sugars altogether.

Currently, American children consume three times the recommended amount of added sugar, Dr. Miriam Vos, lead author of the statement and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, said in a news release. Vos additionally told LiveScience that parents don't always know the amount of calories their kids eat daily.

The impact of consuming too much sugar could be fatal. The AHA cites a landmark 2014 study in JAMA Internal Medicine suggesting that indulging in too much sugar could lead to a higher risk of dying from heart disease.

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This statement comes on the heels of stepped up efforts by the federal government to regulate consumption of added sugars. Come July 2018, the Food and Drug Administration will mandate that food manufacturers include added sugar stats directly on food labels.

Politico points out that all kid-centered foods, like yogurt and cereal, could now lose popularity among health-conscious parents, though sugary drinks will be hit hardest -- a 20-ounce Pepsi has 69 grams of sugar.

Questions still remain that require further research, such as whether the consumption of artificial sweetener impacts children's health and whether 100 percent juice poses the same potential risks as sugar-sweetened drinks.

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David Oliver is Associate Editor, Social Media at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, or send him an email at doliver@usnews.com.