Citerank: (13) 348691A healthier dietEncourage people to eat a healthier diet – and to be more health-discerning about when, how often, and what to eat.565CA4D9, 351120The addictiveness of sugarSome companies are harnessing the addictiveness of sugar for commercial benefit and to the detriment of public health. Emerging science on the addictiveness and toxicity of sugar, especially when combined with the known addictive properties of caffeine found in many sugary beverages, points to a large-scale public health threat similar to addictiveness and harmful impacts of tobacco products.62C78C9A, 352400Many individuals are consuming more energy than they are expendingPublic Health England estimates that the average man in England is consuming around 300 calories a day more than they would need were they a healthy body weight.555CD992, 352457Public Health Responsibility DealThe Public Health Responsibility Deal aims to tap into the potential for businesses and other influential organisations to make a significant contribution to improving public health by helping us to create this environment. The Responsibility Deal embodies the Government’s ambition for a more collaborative approach to tackling the challenges caused by our lifestyle choices.62C78C9A, 352522Calorie consumptionPublic Health England estimates that the average man in England is consuming around 300 calories a day more than they would need were they a healthy body weight.555CD992, 368236SugarDefinitions of sugar vary. For the purposes of the PHE paper cited, the term ‘sugar’ includes all sugars outside the cellular structure in foods and drinks excluding those naturally present in dairy products. This includes sugar added to foods, plus the sugar in fruit juice and honey. It does not include the sugars naturally present in intact fruit and vegetables or dairy products.82AECCD8, 399669A healthier dietEncourage people to eat a healthier diet – and to be more health-discerning about when, how often, and what to eat.565CA4D9, 399705Public Health Responsibility DealThe Public Health Responsibility Deal aims to tap into the potential for businesses and other influential organisations to make a significant contribution to improving public health by helping us to create this environment. The Responsibility Deal embodies the Government’s ambition for a more collaborative approach to tackling the challenges caused by our lifestyle choices.62C78C9A, 399891Many individuals are consuming more energy than they are expendingPublic Health England estimates that the average man in England is consuming around 300 calories a day more than they would need were they a healthy body weight.555CD992, 399909Calorie consumptionPublic Health England estimates that the average man in England is consuming around 300 calories a day more than they would need were they a healthy body weight.555CD992, 399934Consuming too much sugarMany people are eating more sugar than they should. Current intakes of sugar for all population groups exceed recommendations set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) for the UK in 1991 (which recommended that, on a population basis, no more than 10% of the average total energy intake should be consumed as sugar). Energy dense diets, such as those that are high in sugar, can lead to an excess calorie intake (which, if sustained, leads to weight gain and obesity).555CD992, 399946The addictiveness of sugarSome companies are harnessing the addictiveness of sugar for commercial benefit and to the detriment of public health. Emerging science on the addictiveness and toxicity of sugar, especially when combined with the known addictive properties of caffeine found in many sugary beverages, points to a large-scale public health threat similar to addictiveness and harmful impacts of tobacco products.62C78C9A, 399960SugarDefinitions of sugar vary. For the purposes of the PHE paper cited, the term ‘sugar’ includes all sugars outside the cellular structure in foods and drinks excluding those naturally present in dairy products. This includes sugar added to foods, plus the sugar in fruit juice and honey. It does not include the sugars naturally present in intact fruit and vegetables or dairy products.82AECCD8

One of the few incontrovertible facts about obesity is that weight is only gained when energy intake exceeds energy needs for a prolonged period. This is clear from studies of basic physiology under standardized conditions and controlled intervention studies involving manipulations of the components of energy balance. However, energy intake must be considered in the context of an individual’s energy needs. Obesity results not from a high absolute energy intake but from intake which exceeds energy needs, even as a small fraction of energy flux. It is thus the coupling between intake and expenditure that lies at the heart of the problem.

The search for specific dietary factors that increase the risk of obesity is therefore a quest for factors that undermine the innate regulatory control of body weight. There are multiple mechanisms by which this can occur which are explored elsewhere in this series of reviews, including satiety, palatability, food availability or low-energy needs as a consequence of physical inactivity. This review will focus on the evidence for specific dietary determinants of obesity largely from observational and intervention studies.

The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) data released today (14 May 2014) by Public Health England (PHE) shows that overall the population is still consuming too much saturated fat, added sugars and salt and not enough fruit, vegetables, oily fish and fibre.