Almost 70% of Jamaican teenagers are drinking two or more sugary drinks a day.
A recent Youth Risk and Resiliency Behaviour Survey indicated that 68% of Jamaican students aged 13-15 are consuming one or more fizzy or sweetened drinks two or more times a day.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton cited the statistic as he called on school leaders to follow interim guidelines aimed at reducing students’ exposure to and consumption of sugary drinks, including fruit and energy drinks and sweetened water.
The objective is to improve the dietary intake of children and also reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for 78% of deaths in Jamaica each year.
Childhood obesity
Evidence shows a strong link between sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity and the development of NCDs in later years, which requires an urgent response.
Effective January 1, 2019, the guidelines prohibited sugar-sweetened beverages with a total sugar concentration exceeding a maximum of six grams of sugar per 100 ml from being sold or served in schools.
This was reduced to a maximum of five grams per 100 ml from 1 January 2020, and to a maximum of four grams per 100 ml, from 1 January 2021.
Come January 2023, the limit will move to a maximum of 2.5 grams of sugar per 100 ml.
Rule-breakers
Minister Tufton this week revealed that some schools aren't adhering to the guidelines.
And the Minister says that school leadership must do more to ensure that students can access healthier drink choices.
He added that data assessed by the Ministry’s National Food Industry Taskforce, following inspection of 35 schools in April, found that the more popular drinks on sale didn't conform to the guidelines.
Sugar is addictive
“It is important that we respond to this, because sugar is addictive, and our young people will become addicted, and they will continue, as part of their lifestyle, to consume this excessive sugar which ultimately will lead to health issues later on in life,” Minister Tufton pointed out.
He said that stricter monitoring of drinks sold at school will be done, while stressing that “the time is now” to intervene and provide children with the guidance and support “so that they can live a wholesome life and become the productive adults that we all desire them to be”.
Healthy living
Meanwhile, Education and Youth Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams reported that more than 600 principals, senior teachers, school nurses, physical education teachers, health and family life teachers, cultural agents, and guidance counsellors have been sensitised on an institutional plan for schools.
This is geared at promoting healthy consumption choices and physical activity among students.
“We are again appealing to all stakeholders to follow the guidelines in the interest of their own good health and that of the children,” the Minister appealed.