sugar warning teenagers Christmas | The Independent
Doctors have issued a health warning to Britons this Christmas after a new survey revealed one in five people are considered sugar addicts.
The average Brit consumes 87 grams more sugar on Christmas Day than their usual intake of 29 grams, according to a nationwide survey conducted by Superdrug Online Doctor; This is almost three times the NHS recommended maximum of 30g per day.
Younger people tend to consume even higher amounts; 16 to 24 year olds consume a total of 135 grams of sugar on Christmas Day; That’s a staggering 106 grams more than recommended, the equivalent of gulping down half a box of Celebration chocolates.
38 per cent of Britons use Christmas as an excuse to binge on sweets, with 28 per cent saying they feel “hungover” after a festive sugar binge.
These spikes in sugar resulted in survey participants reporting side effects such as weight gain (30 percent), tooth decay (22 percent), energy crashes and fatigue (21 percent), and difficulty sleeping (17 percent).
Superdrug’s clinical lead for service development, Dr. Babak Ashrafi warned that excessive food consumption on Christmas Day could have “immediate and worrying effects”:
Insulin surge and energy crash
When sugar enters the bloodstream, your pancreas releases large amounts of insulin to lower your glucose levels. These sudden rises and falls can leave you feeling tired, shaky, and hungry again right after eating.
Weakened immune response
Excess sugar can temporarily slow down your immune cells’ ability to fight viruses and bacteria. Research shows that high blood sugar levels can suppress white blood cell function for several hours; Therefore, excessive consumption may make you more sensitive to winter cold.
Inflammation and skin flare-ups
High sugar intake promotes inflammation in the body. In the short term, this can worsen joint pain, water retention, and bloating, and in some people, it can lead to skin flare-ups such as acne or eczema.
Tension in the heart and blood vessels
When you consume too much sugar, your body produces more triglycerides and releases stress hormones such as cortisol. Together, these can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure and increased heart rate, placing an additional strain on your cardiovascular system.
Cravings and mood instability
Sugar gives your brain a short-term dopamine boost; This is the same chemical that is linked to the feeling of pleasure. Once it drops, you may experience irritability, low mood, and stronger cravings for sweeter foods, making it easier to fall into a recurring cycle of overeating and crashing.
But Colette Reynolds The qualified nutritionist and child psychologist said consuming large amounts of sugar could lead to stomach aches or feeling unwell, but “it’s what’s going on outside of Christmas that really matters”.
“The goal is to help children develop a long-term, balanced relationship with all foods, including sweets. This process means overdoing it from time to time and then returning to our normal routines, not just for our children, but for all of us.
“The best preparation is to maintain your regular eating routines as much as possible. This means prioritizing three main meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ensure your children are well-nourished throughout the day, ideally two or three balanced meals containing protein and fibre. These nutrients help balance blood sugar levels and provide lasting energy.”
“It’s also helpful to talk about foods objectively. Avoid labels like ‘bad,’ ‘full of sugar,’ or ’empty calories.’ Labeling foods can make children feel guilty for eating them. We don’t want to use sweets as rewards or punishments. This helps keep foods and emotions separate.”
