Is Sugar the new Tobacco? Insights from Laboratory Studies, Consumer Surveys and Public Health

Curr Obes Rep. 2015 Mar;4(1):111-21. doi: 10.1007/s13679-015-0141-3.

Abstract

In the Americas, mean energy intake from added sugar exceeds recent World Health Organization recommendations for free sugars in the diet. As a leading contributor to this excess, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) overconsumption represents a risk for the population's health. This article provides an overview of clinical and epidemiological evidence, marketing practices, corporate influence and prevention strategies related to added sugar and SSB. For each aspect of this multidimensional profile, we briefly compare SSB to the case of tobacco pointing to similarities but also major differences. Tobacco control has demonstrated the effectiveness of long term multifaceted prevention strategies in multiple settings supported by strong public policies which may be applied to the consumption of SSB. However, translating these policies to the specific case of SSB is urgently needed, to inform preventive actions, decide which intervention mix will be used, and evaluate the process and impact of the chosen strategy.

Keywords: Marketing practices; Public health; Sugar; Sugar-sweetened beverages; Taxation; Tobacco.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Beverages
  • Chronic Disease*
  • Dietary Sucrose / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Sucrose / adverse effects
  • Energy Intake*
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Policy
  • Humans
  • Industry
  • Marketing
  • Public Health*
  • Smoking* / adverse effects
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tobacco Products

Substances

  • Dietary Sucrose