ATLANTA (November 8, 2012) — A 2012 study by Song et al 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.
Do you have questions about low-calorie sweeteners? Want to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle? You asked and we listened. Our resident Registered Dietitians answered the most popular questions about low-calorie sweeteners.
