Table 2

Indicators of the dietary content in free sugars according to quintiles of the dietary contribution of NOVA food groups in the UK population aged 1.5–10 years (2008–2014)

Dietary contribution (% of total energy intake)% of total energy intake from free sugarsIndividuals with ≥10% of total energy intake from free sugars
QuintileMeanMinMaxMeanSE%PR*PRadj†95% CI
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods+processed culinary ingredients
 First15.360.0020.9215.800.3382.991.001.00
 Second24.8620.9328.4114.600.3079.620.960.950.89 to 1.02
 Third31.5728.4634.9614.370.2881.680.980.990.93 to 1.06
 Fourth39.3034.9843.8613.660.3673.400.880.910.84 to 0.99
 Fifth52.4643.9779.9311.13‡0.2653.870.65‡0.69‡0.61 to 0.78
Processed foods
 First0.410.001.3313.930.2972.581.001.00
 Second2.561.343.7914.820.3080.231.111.111.03 to 1.19
 Third5.183.796.8213.770.2573.851.021.040.95 to 1.13
 Fourth8.966.8311.9513.370.3173.231.011.020.93 to 1.12
 Fifth16.0512.0441.7113.160.5269.200.950.990.86 to 1.14
Ultra-processed foods
 First36.3815.1143.6710.350.3846.411.001.00
 Second49.0043.7253.0312.370.3066.781.441.391.15 to 1.70
 Third57.1753.0660.9513.840.3774.221.601.501.24 to 1.81
 Fourth65.5860.9670.1414.480.2680.951.741.621.35 to 1.95
 Fifth78.0570.1510015.32‡0.2581.411.75‡1.62‡1.35 to 1.95
  • *PR=prevalence ratios estimated using Poisson regression.

  • †PRadj=prevalence ratios adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity (White, mixed ethnic group, Black or Black British, Asian or Asian British and other race), region, survey year and household income.

  • ‡Significant linear trend across all quintiles (p≤0.01).