“Jamie Oliver’s Sugar Rush documentary highlights the impact that obesity and diabetes are already having on the lives of many in the UK and the urgent need to tackle these diseases. However the documentary may have left many viewers with the impression that the consumption of sugar is the principal cause of the increasing prevalence of these conditions. Scientific evidence shows us a range of diet and lifestyle factors contribute to these diseases not one ingredient in isolation.
The reality is that as a nation we now consume less sugar per person than we did in 1900. Consumption levels of sugar have been relatively stable, in some cases declining, in all age groups over the last three decades. This contrasts directly with the increasing proportion of obese, overweight and diabetic individuals over the same time period. Singling out sugar may seem a simple, quick fix solution but risks ignoring many other factors that can contribute to lifestyle diseases.”