Sugar’s Role in Obesity – The Sugar Association

The cause of obesity is a complex issue, and there are many contributing factors.

These factors include excessive caloric intake, genetics and low physical activity levels. Just like protein, starch, fat, alcohol and other carbohydrates, sugar is a source of calories in the diet. Excessive calories from any source, including sugar, can lead to weight gain, increasing the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases. A systematic review of the evidence concluded that “if there are any adverse effects of sugar, they are due entirely to the calories it provides.”¹ Additionally, three authoritative scientific organizations—the U.S. Institute of Medicine,² European Food Safety Authority³ and U.K. Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition⁴—each conducted extensive scientific reviews of added sugars and obesity and found no unique role for added sugars in the development of obesity.

Data from the past 40 years shows that obesity trends do not mirror trends in sugar consumption. Obesity has gone up as sugar intake has gone down. However, total caloric consumption has paralleled the rise in obesity rates.^5-8

While emerging research will always reveal new information, the scientific evidence consistently shows that a healthy lifestyle based on moderation, a variety of food choices and physical activity tends to lead to the best outcomes when compared with simply focusing on cutting out or adding one ingredient or another.^9-13 As long as people are conscious of their caloric intake, they can enjoy sugar in moderation.