Increasing Awareness of Added Sugar in the Outpatient Setting

An estimated 80% of Americans consume more than the recommended daily amount of added sugar. Added sugar consumption significantly increases risk for cardiovascular disease mortality, and is associated with body weight, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. In the United States, added sugar consumption contributes to public health costs related to cardiovascular disease ($555 billion spent in 2016) and diabetes ($245 billion spent in 2012). Particularly in New York, nearly 40% of all New York deaths in 2014 could be attributed to cardiovascular disease and 10.5% of New York adults had diabetes in 2017. In addition to added sugar overconsumption, many Americans have difficulty reading a Nutrition Facts Panel and nutrition education can be difficult to achieve in an outpatient primary care setting due to many competing demands. The purpose of this project was to develop easy-to-read, educational office literature about added sugar for patient waiting and exam rooms at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Family Medicine Center in Plattsburgh, New York. Office literature included information about the recommended daily amount of added sugar, potential health consequences, information about reading a Nutrition Facts Panel, and common foods and drinks containing added sugar with suggested alternatives. Preliminary results suggest the office literature has effectively motivated patients to try healthier alternatives and has served as a springboard for discussion with the provider. ; https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1668/thumbnail.jpg