Citerank: (13) 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, 351718Consuming 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, 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

Eating too much sugar is bad for us. This paper outlines the steps PHE will take to help families and individuals to reduce their sugar intake and how we study possible initiatives to further reduce sugar consumption. This will allow us to meet the Department of Health’s request that we provide them draft recommendations in spring 2015 to inform the government’s thinking on sugar in the diet. We will do this work in the light of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s report on carbohydrates, which has been published in draft form and will be finalised by the end of the year.

A body of literature exists regarding the association of red and processed meats with obesity; however, the nature and extent of this relation has not been clearly established. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between red and processed meat intake and obesity. We searched multiple electronic databases for observational studies on the relationship between red and processed meat intake and obesity published until July 2013. Odds ratios (ORs) and means for obesity-related indices and for variables that may contribute to heterogeneity were calculated. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted with 21 and 18 studies, respectively (n = 1,135,661). The meta-analysis (n = 113,477) showed that consumption of higher quantities of red and processed meats was a risk factor for obesity (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.14–1.64). Pooled mean body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) trends showed that in comparison to those in the lowest ntile, subjects in the highest ntile of red and processed meat consumption had higher BMI (mean difference: 1.37; 95% CI: 0.90–1.84 for red meat; mean difference: 1.32; 95% CI: 0.64–2.00 for processed meat) and WC (mean difference: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.86–3.70 for red meat; mean difference: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.87–2.66 for processed meat). The current analysis revealed that red and processed meat intake is directly associated with risk of obesity, and higher BMI and WC. However, the heterogeneity among studies is significant. These findings suggest a decrease in red and processed meat intake.

The BDA Food Fact Sheets are written by dietitians to help you learn the best ways to eat and drink to keep your body fit and healthy. These resources are for you to download and print for your own reference. The Fact Sheets are for information only: they are not a substitute for proper medical diagnosis or dietary advice given by a dietitian. The Fact Sheets are intended for adults unless they sit under the 'babies and children section' or make a specific reference to babies and/or children.

After controlling for behavioral risks, work-life environment, and neighborhood factors, we found that:

For every 10 percent increase in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, the obesity rate increases by 0.8 percent.

Obesity and excess caloric intake are risk factors for the development of diabetes and heart disease, the leading killers both in the U.S. and worldwide. Unhealthy diets, with too much fat and sugar, undermine the nation’s economic health. Our results indicate that effective policies are needed to curb unhealthy behaviors and encourage healthy ones. Even moderate behavior changes can have a substantial impact not only on individual health but on the health-care system.

Using alternative scenarios of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, we developed statistical simulations of two possible paths from 2010 to 2030. The baseline scenario projected sugary drink consumption assuming that behavior and policy stayed the same. The optimistic scenario modeled the path of sugary drink consumption as modified by effective policies and other efforts to reduce the intake of empty calories. In other words, the optimistic scenario assumed a faster decline in sugary drink consumption compared with the baseline scenario and resulted in fewer people with obesity over time. The optimistic scenario indicated that even a moderate reduction in consumption could bring dramatic benefits to the health-care system over a 20-year period.

> If we accelerate the reduction in sugary drink consumption so that in 2030 Americans consume three fewer 12-ounce beverages per month compared with the baseline rate, the number of obese Americans would be reduced by 2.6 million.

> The process of reaching this goal by 2030 would produce cumulative savings of $40.7 billion ($26.2 billion in 2010 dollars) for the U.S. health-care system.

Carbohydrates provide the major source of energy in the diet and hence the type and amount of carbohydrate consumed is an important consideration for weight control.

Recent risk assessments have shown that there is no consistent association between the proportions of energy consumed as carbohydrate and body weight and reinforce the dominance of total energy intake as the primary determinant of body weight. However, they have highlighted evidence that different types of carbohydrate have specific effects on the risk of obesity.

Short-term experimental studies suggest that some types of dietary fibre may be linked to increased satiation and cohort studies are supportive of an association between low intakes of fibre-rich, whole-grain foods and weight gain. But these observations are not supported by evidence of effects on body weight in randomised controlled trials, suggesting that high-fibre or whole-grain intake may simply be a marker of a broader dietary pattern.

Recent attention has focused on the growing evidence of a positive association between the intake of free sugars and weight gain and particularly the risks linked to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Given the high population-level intake of free sugars the challenge is to identify actions that will successfully reduce consumption to contribute to reductions in the prevalence of obesity.

The present paper considers the range of policy options available, using the Nuffield ladder of intervention to provide a framework for risk management, with a focus on the consumption of SSB.

Current policy interventions are largely based around consumer education and encouragement to industry to renovate products to reduce the sugar content of food and drinks and/or reduce portion size, but dietary change has been slow. Further measures, including the use of specific incentives/disincentives may be needed to change consumption patterns, some of which may infringe personal or commercial freedom.

For these policies to be implemented will require sustained efforts to create a climate in which such interventions are acceptable or even welcomed by society as an appropriate protection against obesity and other diet-related ill-health.