Obesity & Sugar Intake Not Linked According to 2012 Study

09 Nov 2012 --- A 2012 study by Song et al titled " Is obesity development associated with dietary sugar intake in the U.S.?" looked at whether the rise in obesity in the U.S. was associated with dietary sugar intake. The authors concluded that, “Among the dietary factors investigated in the present study, total caloric intake, not total sugar intake, most strongly predicted obesity in the American population.” That means that calories count!

Researchers analyzed data from the first and third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a government dataset, specifically focusing on total energy intake and total sugar intake (including added sugars). 

 

They found that total energy intake was linked to body mass index (BMI), a height to weight ratio, in all age groups studied. Interestingly, they found that carbohydrate intake was inversely associated with BMI. Thus, the more carbohydrates people ate, the lower their height to weight ratio tended to be. Another interesting finding was that total sugar intake was not associated with BMI. In other words, the amount of sugar people consumed did not seem to play a role in their weight. 

 

While the researchers tried to control for as many variables as possible, because of the study design, the researchers were limited to observations, and could not prove cause and effect. 

 

When it comes to weight loss and weight management, calories will always count. Weight is determined by the amount of calories consumed and the amount used as energy. If more calories are consumed than burned, the result is weight gain. Making healthier food choices and engaging in regular physical activity can help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Source: Calorie Control Council

 

The papers results stated " From 1970 through 1990, the contribution of sugars to total CHO (carbohydrate) intake decreased in the 1 to 18 y and ≥19 y subgroups, and the contribution of added sugars to the total energy intake did not change. Multivariate predictive models identified energy intake as a positive predictor, CHO as a negative predictor, and total sugar intake as a non-predictor for body mass index in the 1  to 18 y and ≥19 y age subgroups. Daily energy intake was positively predicted by CHO and fat intakes but not with total and added sugar intakes in the two age subgroups."

 

The paper also concluded that" Energy intake was the primary contributor to body mass index in all age groups in this study. The major energy sources of children and adolescents differed from those of adults. The implicated associations between energy and macronutrient intakes indicate that keeping energy balance is the primary strategy to avoid obesity."