- Scientists warn Britain’s weight crisis could be dangerously misguided
- Sugar has replaced fat as the real culprit behind Britain’s obesity epidemic
- Major new research suggests the white stuff may not be to blame after all
- A Glasgow University study measured over 132,000 people across Britain
- It found obese adults pile on pounds because of the amount of fat they eat
Pat Hagan for the Daily Mail
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Obesity, what’s to blame? Major new research suggests the white stuff may not be to blame after all
Sugar has replaced fat as being seen as the real culprit behind Britain’s obesity epidemic, with the government planning a tax on sugary drinks to curb the problem.
But major new research suggests the white stuff may not be to blame after all.
A study of more than 132,000 people across Britain by experts at Glasgow University has found sugar actually contributes very little to expanding waistlines.
Obese and overweight adults pile on the pounds because of the amount of fat they eat – not sugar, the study shows.
In fact, it makes up a smaller share of the diet for many fat people than it does for skinnier ones.
Scientists behind the research – which was not funded by the sugar industry – warn public health campaigns blaming it for Britain’s weight crisis could be dangerously misguided.
They fear it may make matters worse by giving the impression that it’s fine to eat fat because sugar is the real villain.
Last night Professor Jill Pell, who led the research at the university’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, said: ‘The critical message is people need to reduce their overall calories.
‘If focusing attention on sugar results in them compensating by eating more crisps, then we will fail to combat obesity.’
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The long-delayed government obesity strategy, due out this summer, is expected to call for extensive measures to crack down on sugar consumption.
Proposals are likely to include a tax on sugary drinks which could see the price of drinks like Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Lucozade Energy jump by 24 pence a litre.
Cancer Research UK has estimated a 20 per cent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks would prevent 3.7m people becoming obese over the next decade and save the NHS £10m a year by 2025.
A study of more than 132,000 people across Britain by experts at Glasgow University has found sugar actually contributes very little to expanding waistlines
TV chef Jamie Oliver has reportedly backed the tax, describing it as the ‘single most important’ change that could be made.
But the latest study shows sugar accounts for a relatively small amount of daily energy intake among overweight people, while fat provides by far the most.
Scientists analysed the dietary habits of 132,479 men and women taking part in a major research project called UK Biobank, a massive database of medical data and tissue samples.
They looked at what foods made up volunteers’ daily energy intake.
The results, in the International Journal of Epidemiology, showed two thirds of the men and just over half the women were either overweight or obese.
Obese and overweight adults pile on pounds because of the amount of fat they eat – not sugar, a study shows
On a daily basis, they scoffed 14 per cent more fat than their slimmer counterparts.
But sugar accounted for just 22 per cent of their energy intake – compared with 23.4 per cent among skinnier volunteers.
In a report on the results researchers added: ‘Fat is the largest contributor to overall energy.
‘The proportion of energy from fat in the diet, but not sugar, is higher among obese individuals.
‘Focusing public health messages on sugar may mislead on the need to reduce fat and overall energy consumption.’
Professor Naveed Sattar, from Glasgow University’s Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, said: ‘Fat dominated energy intake while sugar’s contribution was almost trivial.
‘The idea that sugar is the dominant factor is grossly misleading.
‘I think the sugar tax is a good thing but it’s not going to solve the obesity epidemic on its own and may only make a small dent in it.’
Last year, the government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommended halving daily sugar intake to seven teaspoons for adults – or just one can of fizzy drink – and five for kids under eleven.
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