Obesity Rise due to Sugar

 

Over the years, the overconsumption of sugar has led to this obesity epidemic. Sugar is easy to purchase, and is in nearly everything we eat. Studies dating back as early as 1820 show sugar production has been steadily increasing, and other studies which show the rise of obesity since 1960.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is not a situation of simple coincidence. In a day and age where everything is mass produced, so is sugar. It makes the food we eat sweeter.

 

However, the overconsumption of sugar is what leads to obesity. A common form of sugar found in foods today is High Fructose Corn Syrup, or HFCS. It is found in plants, and sweetens meats, breads, and foods too.  When humans can’t process all of this sugar, it becomes fat. Too much fat eventually leads to obesity. This is how obesity has grown to what it is today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The proof lays in the past. The year was 1977, according to Zoe Harcombe, author of The Obesity Epidemic, when the U.S changed its public health advice, claiming sugars were good for you, telling people to eat more carbohydrates. This announcement coincides with the rise of obesity in the United States.

While this may just be a coincidence, the decreasing levels of nutrients in fruits and vegetables aren’t. Farmers focus on growing crops that will sell, and the ones that sell taste sweet. Instead of focusing on growing crops high in nutrients, farmers focus on growing crops high in fructose. The consumption of these plants augments sugar consumption, forcing the body to store the excess sugar in fat.

 

In other words, sugar is the leading cause of obesity in America. It has lowered nutrient levels in food, while raising their levels of sugar. Indirectly, this has created more foods high in HFCS, leading to the unknowing overconsumption of sugar. It has been knowingly put into food to make it sweeter, a direct cause of over consumption of sugar. In the end though, the individual chooses what they want to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited:

 

 

Duncan, Lindsey, Dr. “THE HIDDEN, SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT SUGAR.” Dr. Lindsey. Lindsey Duncan, n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

 

Dwyer, Marge. “Eating healthy vs. unhealthy diet costs about $1.50 more per day.” Harvard School of Public Health. N.p., 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Guyenet, Stephen. “By 2606, the US Diet will be 100 Percent Sugar.” Whole Health Source: Nutrition and Health

Science. Stephan Guyenet, 18 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Harcombe, Zoe. “Introduction.” The Obesity Epidemic. Zoe Harcombe, 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Kim. “My Plate – addressing portion sizes?” This Runner’s Fuel. Kim, 13 July 2013. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

McDowell, Lena. “Overview of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools and Districts: School Year 1999-2000.” National Center for Education Statistics. N.p., Sept. 2001. Web. 20 May 2014.

 

Mercola, Dr. “How the Sugar Industry Hoodwinked You about the Dangers of Sugar, Using Big Tobacco Tactics.” Mercola. Dr. Mercola, 1 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Olver, Lyner. Food Timeline FAQs: School lunches. Ed. The Food Timeline. N.p.: Foodtimeline, 2014. Food Timeline. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Robinson, Jo. “Breeding the Nutrition Out of Our Food.” New York Times 25 May 2013: n. pag. Print.

Stoll, Scott, Dr. “Has Your Food Changed Over the Past 100 Years?” Fully Alive Today. Dr. Scott Stoll, n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Pictures:

Dwyer, Marge. “How Much Money the School Saves.” Trans. Sammy Colker-Eybel. Google Docs. N.p., 18 May 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.   This is a graph I made, with information from Marge Dwyer

 

Jamieson, Alex. “Portion Size Compared.” This Runner’s Fuel. Kim, 13 July 2013. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Landen, Jeremy. “U.S Sugar Consumption, 1822-2005.” Whole Health Source: Nutrition and Health Science. Stephen Guyenet, 18 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 May 2014. 

 

Mercola, Dr. “Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S Adults Aged 20-74.” Mercola. Dr.Mercola, 1 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 May 2014.