What is the maximum percentage of calories that should come from added sugar?

The recommendation for the maximum percentage of calories that should come from added sugars is 5% to 10%. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that reducing the intake of added sugars to below 10% of total daily caloric intake offers health benefits, and further reductions to below 5% would provide additional health benefits. This lower target is advised to help prevent obesity, dental caries, and other metabolic disorders.

Choosing the upper limit of 10% reflects guidelines from authoritative health organizations, which are increasingly promoting lower targets for added sugars due to their association with various health issues. The preference for 5% as a specific target is based on emerging evidence that going below this level may be optimal for long-term health outcomes, particularly for weight management and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

Other percentages, such as 15% or 20%, are considered excessive by these health guidelines, as consumption at such levels can lead to adverse health effects, including an increased risk of obesity and other non-communicable diseases.