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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce consumption of added sugars by people aged 2 years and over — NWS‑10 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Little or no detectable change

  Little or no detectable change

Most Recent Data:
13.2 percent (2017-20) *

Target:
11.5 percent *

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

Baseline:
13.5 percent was the mean percentage of calories from added sugars consumed by persons aged 2 years and over in 2013-16 *

* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

Added sugars include sugars that are added to foods and drinks — and foods packaged as sweeteners, such as table sugar, syrups, and honey. Added sugars contribute calories to a person’s diet but no essential nutrients — and they can contribute to health problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 recommends limiting added sugars starting at age 2 years and avoiding them completely for children younger than 2 years. The mean percent of total daily calories from added sugars people consume varies by many factors, including race and ethnicity. Improving access to foods that are low in added sugars and that support healthy dietary patterns across all populations is one strategy to help address health disparities and improve population health. The Nutrition Health Disparities Research Framework highlights examples of factors and their intersections to understand and address relevant disparities. 

In 2017–2020, 13.2 was the mean percentage of calories from added sugars consumed by people aged 2 years and over.  *

Data Source:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC/NCHS

Disparities in rates of consumption of added sugars by race and ethnicity (for people aged 2 years and over): Highest/lowest rate  * ‡

In 2017–2020, non-Hispanic Black or African American people aged 2 years and over consumed the highest mean percentage of calories from added sugars (14.8 percent). Non-Hispanic Asian people (reference group) consumed the lowest mean percentage (8.8 percent).

The rate of calories from added sugars consumed by non-Hispanic Black or African American people was 67.3 percent higher than the rate consumed by non-Hispanic Asian people (maximal rate ratio = 1.673). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 5.9 percentage points (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in rates of consumption of added sugars by race and ethnicity (for people aged 2 years and over): All groups  * ‡

In 2017–2020, non-Hispanic Asian people had the lowest group rate of calories consumed from added sugars (8.8 percent).

  • The mean percentage of calories from added sugars consumed by Hispanic or Latino people was 38.0 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The mean percentage of calories from added sugars consumed by non-Hispanic White people was 53.4 percent higher than the lowest group rate.
  • The mean percentage of calories from added sugars consumed by non-Hispanic Black or African American people was 67.3 percent higher than the lowest group rate.

Calories consumed from added sugars among people aged 2 years and over, 2017–2020  *

8.8% Non-Hispanic Asian people
12.2% Hispanic or Latino people
13.5% Non-Hispanic White people
14.8% Non-Hispanic Black or African American people

Find data for additional demographic groups.