Sugar Crash

A low-sugar diet in utero and in the first two years of life lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in adulthood by up to 35% and hypertension by up to 20%, according to a study published in Science and co-authored by Professor Paul Gertler.

The research team reached their conclusions by comparing outcomes for adults born during World War II sugar rationing in the U.K. and those born just after. Disease protection increased with the length of time babies had limited exposure to added sugar. 

In the U.S., people with diabetes incur average annual medical expenditures of $12,000. Every decade of earlier diagnosis of diabetes is associated with three to four years lower life expectancy, underscoring the value of early interventions that could delay or prevent this disease.

With added sugar everywhere—even in baby and toddler foods—and children bombarded with TV ads for sugary snacks, the research gives parents and policymakers powerful data to make changes. 

“Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options,” Gertler says. “We should also tax and regulate the marketing of sugary foods targeted at kids.”