There is no evidence to suggest the nation’s obesity epidemic can be specifically blamed on consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – the sweetener in many sodas and junk foods – according to a new report.
In a commentary published in the International Journal of Obesity, a panel of health experts said an extensive review of health studies found overwhelming evidence that HFCS is nutritionally equivalent to sugar, both sweeteners are absorbed by the body in the same way, and HFCS is not a unique cause of weight problems.
"The public discussion about HFCS will likely continue to rage on and more studies will be conducted," said Dr. James M. Rippe, a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida and one of the article's authors. "However, at this point there is simply no evidence to suggest that the use of HFCS alone is directly responsible for increased obesity rates or other health concerns."
The authors’ viewpoint mirrors the positions of the American Medical Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, both of which have concluded HFCS is not a unique cause of obesity. Other studies have suggested lack of exercise and overeating (particularly sweet and fat-laden junk foods) are primary factors in the nation’s obesity epidemic.
HFCS was developed in the mid-1960s and its use in food products grew rapidly from 1970-1999.