Is Sugar Consumption a Cause of Severe
Overweight?
Obesity, Sugar and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
Does Sugar Cause Obesity
Excess body fat (obesity) arises from the
energy imbalance caused by taking in too much energy and using too little.
It has been thought that sugar plays a major role in the etiology of obesity.
There are several arguments against this hypothesis.
- Sugars suppress appetite to the same
extent as other carbohydrates.
- There is no relationship between the
per capita amount of sugar available in the food supply and the incidence
of obesity in the population.
- Epidemiologic studies show an inverse
relationship between sugar intake and obesity, but a direct relationship
between obesity and fat intake, and the ratio of fat to sugar in the
diet.
Obesity & Sugar - Summary
Obesity is a complex problem and its cause
cannot be simply attributed to any one component of the food supply.
Obesity & Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
The contribution of non-nutritive sweeteners
(zero calorie sweeteners) to obesity management is unclear. The original
motivation for their development was based on the goal of providing a
sweet taste without added energy to persons with diabetes and those wanting
to control energy intake. Non-nutritive sweeteners can save the consumer
up to 16 calories per tespoon of sweetening.
Theoretically, if total intake of sugars
(estimated at 95 g or approximately 24 tsp/day) were replaced by nonnutritive
sweeteners, this could result in a deficit of 380 kcal/day or a 1 lb weight
loss in 9 to 10 days.
Non-Nutritive Sweeteners - Weight Loss
Study
One study has shown that the addition of
aspartame-sweetened foods and beverages to a multi-disciplinary weight-control
program facilitated long-term maintenance of reduction in body weight
in obese women.
Obesity Levels Up Despite Rise in Non-Nutritive
Sweetener Consumption
However, obesity prevalence has increased
substantially at the same time as the consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners
has increased. The rise in prevalence clearly relates to all factors that
cause an energy imbalance.
Therefore, persons who wish to lose weight
may choose to use nonnutritive sweeteners but should do so within the
context of a sensible weight management program including a sensible diet
and enjoyable exercise.
Sources include: American Dietetic Association
(www.eatright.org) |
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