PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND

CHANGE FOR LIFE : SUGAR BOY

When Public Health England launched the Change4Life Sugar Swaps app, the mission was simple but urgent: help families understand just how much hidden sugar is lurking in everyday foods — and make it easier to swap to healthier choices.

The undeniable and unquestionable fact? The average child in the UK consumes 5543 sugar cubes each year. That’s 22kg of sugar - roughly the weight of a 5 year old boy

“Sugar Boy”, a short stop motion film, made using 5543 sugar cubes, showed how the amount of sugar hidden in everyday items as well as the impact that hidden sugar can have on a child’s body from rotting teeth, childhood obesity and even cardiac problems later in life.

The film went everywhere, leading broadcast stories as well as extensive online and social usage. But most importantly ‘Sugar Boy’ helped contribute to over 1 million app downloads in the first week of release taking the top spot on both the App Store and Google Play.