Sugar Shock

Trick or treat! It’s almost Halloween—and that means piles of candy. But should you eat it? Sugar has gotten a lot of negative attention lately for causing problems like obesity (too much body fat) and diabetes (high blood sugar).

“There is definite evidence that too much sugar can increase the risk of many health problems,” says Dr. Sheela N. Magge. She’s a pediatrician in Washington, D.C.

Doctors didn’t always think this way. For years, sugar was considered mostly harmless. But new research suggests that’s partly because of dishonest science back in the 1960s. The sugar industry secretly paid for a study blaming fat in food—not sugar—for health problems.

Trick or treat! It’s almost Halloween. And that means a lot of candy. But should you eat it? Sugar has gotten a bad rap lately. It’s been blamed for obesity. That is when a person has too much body fat. Sugar has also been linked to diabetes. This illness causes high blood sugar.

“There is definite evidence that too much sugar can increase the risk of many health problems,” says Dr. Sheela N. Magge. She’s a children’s doctor. She works in Washington, D.C.

Doctors didn’t always think this way. Sugar was deemed mostly safe for years. But new research suggests that’s partly because of bad science. The sugar industry secretly paid for a study in the 1960s. The study left out sugar’s role in health problems. It blamed fat in food, instead. 

In the 1960s, scientists were trying to figure out why so many Americans die of heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death around the world.

Researchers found evidence that both fat and sugar can cause heart disease. But a group called the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF) didn’t like that result. The SRF represented sugar companies. Those companies would lose money if Americans ate fewer sweets. 

Last year, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, found papers from the 1960s. The papers show that the SRF paid three nutrition scientists to write a scientific review. This type of article uses evidence from many studies to draw conclusions. 

The nutrition scientists published their review in 1967. It concluded that fat causes heart disease. It downplayed the evidence against sugar. Today, scientists must state if they’ve been paid by anyone who might unfairly influence their research. But in the 1960s, that wasn’t required.  

The article swayed public opinion for decades. But recent research shows that sugar isn’t harmless after all. 

Scientists in the 1960s were studying heart disease. They wanted to learn why so many Americans died of this illness. It’s the leading cause of death around the world.

There was proof that both fat and sugar can cause heart disease. But a group called the Sugar Research Foundation didn’t like that result. The group backed sugar companies. They would lose money if Americans ate fewer sweets.

Last year, scientists uncovered something. These researchers worked at University of California, San Francisco. They found papers from the 1960s. The papers showed that the Sugar Research Foundation had paid three scientists. The fee was for writing a scientific review. This type of article looks at many studies. It uses their findings to draw conclusions.

The scientists published their review in 1967. It stated that fat causes heart disease. It played down the bad effects of sugar. Today, scientists must say if anyone has paid them. That’s because being paid might wrongly sway their results. But letting the public know this wasn’t required in the 1960s.

The review affected people’s view on sugar for decades. But recent research shows that sugar isn’t so safe after all. 

Your body needs calories, or energy stored in food. But sugary foods tend to have too many, says Magge. The body stores this extra energy as fat. Sugar can also cause problems like diabetes that increase the risk of heart disease later on.

Many healthy foods, like fruit and milk, naturally contain some sugar. But the problem is extra sugar that’s added to some foods, explains Kimi McAdam. She’s a registered dietitian based in Anaheim, California.

According to the American Heart Association, kids ages 2 to 18 should try to eat no more than 25 grams of added sugar a day (see Sugar Sources). “That’s less than is in a can of regular soda,” says McAdam.

One Halloween sugar splurge won’t cause heart disease, adds McAdam. It’s daily choices that make a difference. She suggests drinking water or milk instead of soda and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. “If you’re going to have sweets, moderation is key,” she says.

Your body needs calories. Calories are energy stored in food. But sugary foods tend to have too many, says Magge. The body stores this extra energy as fat. Sugar can also cause problems like diabetes. These problems can boost the risk of heart disease later on.

Many healthy foods naturally contain some sugar. Those include fruit and milk. But the problem is extra sugar that’s added to some foods, explains Kimi McAdam. She’s a diet expert in Anaheim, California.

The American Heart Association has guidelines for eating sugar. It says kids ages 2 to 18 shouldn’t eat more than 25 grams of added sugar a day (see Sugar Sources). “That’s less than is in a can of regular soda,” says McAdam.

One Halloween sugar splurge won’t cause heart disease, adds McAdam. It’s daily choices that make a difference. She suggests drinking water or milk instead of soda. Also, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, she says. “If you’re going to have sweets, moderation is key.”