Don’t use sweets to reward children: Expert

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Two health practitioners in Dubai said candies and other sweets should not be used to reward children.

Medcare Medical Centre (Al Khawaneej) Family Medicine specialist Dr Rasha Al Ani and Canadian Specialist Hospital clinical dietician Alaa Takidin said so when interviewed on the UAE imposition of excise tax on sugar products which include sweetened beverages and sugary drinks from Jan.1, 2020.

Al Ani and Canadian Specialist Hospital Respiratory Medicine specialist Dr Noordin Wadhvaniya also said it is but proper to tax e-cigarettes or vapes and other related products because of “harmful chemicals.”

Wadhvaniya said, “These expose us to harmful chemicals though the concentration is less when compared to conventional cigarettes. These are equally harmful and the long-term effects are still unknown.”

The 2016 edition of “Tobacco Atlas” states, “The economic cost of smoking in the United Arab Emirates amounts to Dhs1,044 million. This includes direct costs related to healthcare expenditure and indirect cost related to lost productivity due to early mortality and morbidity.”

“Tobacco harms the health, the treasury, and the spirit of the United Arab Emirates. Every year, more than 2,900 of its people are killed by tobacco-caused disease. Still, more than 3,000 children (10-14 years old) and 1,342,000 adults (15+years old) continue to use tobacco each day. Tobacco control advocates must reach out to other communities and resources to strengthen their efforts and create change,” the authors noted.

They also mentioned that “cigarette imports exceeded cigarette exports in the UAE in 2016.”

Al Ani and Takidin were asked about how sugar containing products affect lives and if sugars were needed. They were also consulted with regard to children being rewarded by adults which even include dentists, with sweets and candies.

Al Ani said: “All patients require a balanced diet, and consuming increased levels of certain food items such as high sugar containing food compared with others is considered harmful. Using sugar as a reward in childhood may instil unhealthy habits that pursue into adulthood.”

“High sugar containing food can also lead to disturbed appetite control in children which could lead to obesity and all its associated complications. These affect the brain, stomach and digestion.”

According to Al Ani, the best sources of sugar are “fruits and milk” proven to be beneficial to overall health, because these are rich sources of vitamins and minerals as well.

Takidin said: “Our body needs carbohydrates, which are broken into sugar in our body. This sugar is essential for our body to create energy to survive. However, it is not necessary to include added sugars in the diet in order for our body to make energy. Having natural sugars from food is enough to fulfil our body’s requirements.”

“I believe children should not be rewarded with food. This could be replaced with alternatives such as toys, books, favourite outing or a play date with a friend.”

Both said sugar products and sweeteners ought to be taxed.

Takidin reasoned, “Excess of everything is bad, consuming lots of added sugar products affect over-all health negatively and can cause weight gain, mood swings followed by depression, increased cravings for sweets, increased risks of joint inflammations, and tooth cavities.”

She claimed heavy sugar consumption quickens skin aging aside from the known results of insulin resistance leading to Type 2 diabetes and high risks for cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Both Takidin and Al Ani cited the reduction of disease burden when people become educated and are also given limitations to unhealthy practices such as  binge-eating food with high sugar content.  

“Such initiatives have found moderate to effective levels of success in countries which have imposed taxes,” said Takidin.

Al Ani said, “The taxation is a big step in the right direction as this will hopefully reduce sugar consumption so prevalence of chronic diseases should fall.”