Its Sugar Smart campaign is touring the country, visiting 25 shopping centres nationwide.
Families joining the roadshow at the Wulfrun Centre this Saturday and Sunday (27 and 28 February, 2016) will be able to see live demonstrations of the new Sugar Smart app - available at Type=links;Linkid=3170;Title=NHS Change4Life;Target=_blank; - and get free information packs and ask staff questions about sugar.
The Sugar Smart campaign aims to encourage parents to take control of their children's sugar intake, following revelations that 4 to10 year olds consume an estimated 5,500 sugar cubes a year - that's 22kg, or the weight of the average 5 year old.
A typical 43g chocolate bar contains 6 cubes of sugar, a 200ml juice drink contains over 5 cubes and there are 9 sugar cubes in a can of cola, instantly taking children up to or over their recommended maximum for the day of 5 cubes for 4 to 6 year olds, 6 cubes for 7 to 10 year olds and 7 cubes for 11 year olds.
Councillor Sandra Samuels, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We're encouraging parents to get Sugar Smart and take control of their children's sugar intake.
"Eating and drinking too much sugar causes a range of problems, not least tooth decay. Indeed, almost half of 8 year olds in England have tooth decay, which is the most common reason for children being admitted to hospital.
"Too much sugar also means extra calories, which in turn can lead to stored fat in the body, causing conditions like obesity, heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes. We're already seeing the impact this is having in Wolverhampton, with a quarter of our 5 year olds and over 40% of Year 6 pupils either overweight or obese.
"This free app is an excellent way of creating awareness and enabling families to see just how much sugar is in the food and drink they are buying - and take steps to reduce the amount they consume on a daily basis."
David Elliott, Public Health England West Midlands Health and Wellbeing Team lead on obesity, said: "The most recent information from the child obesity figures for the West Midlands highlights the importance for families to cut back on sugar in the diet.
"Sugar is lurking in everyday food and drink, taking children well over the maximum recommended amount. We're encouraging parents in Wolverhampton to download the new Sugar Smart app and be better informed about the amount of sugar their family consumes, and so protect them from the health risks of having too much sugar."
The Sugar Smart app has been launched to help parents see how much sugar is contained in everyday food and drink. It works by scanning barcodes to reveal the total sugar in food and drink in cubes or grams.
Please visit Type=links;Linkid=3170;Title=NHS Change4Life;Target=_blank; to download the new free app and get hints and tips on cutting down on sugar.
- released: Monday 22 February, 2016