Sugar and Carbs Are to Blame for Obesity
Sugar and Carbs Are to Blame for Obesity – If you think you can exercise your way to normal weight, think again!
In an editorial published in the the British Journal of Sports Medicine, experts point out that a diet that has excessive carbohydrates and sugar is responsible for the current obesity epidemic in Western countries. In fact a sugar- and carb-heavy diet can do more damage to your health than physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol combined.
While physical activity can reduce the risk of many diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and some cancers by almost 30%, it does not help with weight loss, as long as your diet continues to be bad. The authors say that almost 40% of people with normal weight will still have metabolic disorders associated with obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, cancers, reproductive disorders, and premature death. In fact, according to another report, obesity and its complications cause nearly 300,000 premature deaths every year in the US.
The authors liken the marketing tactics of the food industry to that of the tobacco industry, denying and causing confusion and doubt about the negative impact of their products on our health. Celebrity spokespersons for sugary drinks and fatty foods exacerbate the issue. While health professionals focusing on calorie-counting to maintain weight doesn’t help, because it’s where the calories are coming from that’s important for good health. The authors note, “Sugar calories promote fat storage and hunger. Fat calories induce fullness or satiation.”
What can be done to encourage people to eat healthy? Create a food environment where, making healthy food choices become easy.
Category: News
