Added Sugars
Added sugars are sugars and syrups added to foods during processing, which contribute empty calories and are linked to obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Added sugars are the sweeteners put into food and drinks during manufacturing — think sugar in soft drinks, cakes, and sauces, not the natural sugar in whole fruit. These sugars provide calories without nutrition and are easily over-consumed, contributing directly to weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Added sugars refer to caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages during processing or preparation, including sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, and concentrated fruit juices. They are distinct from naturally occurring sugars in intact fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Excess consumption promotes de novo lipogenesis in the liver, contributes to insulin resistance, and is strongly associated with obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. The WHO recommends limiting added sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Singaporeans consume an average of 12 teaspoons of sugar daily — well above health recommendations — largely from sugar-sweetened beverages. Reducing added sugar intake is one of the highest-impact dietary changes for weight management and metabolic health improvement.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.