In the words of director general of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, the obesity and diabetes epidemics represent a “slow-motion disaster."
In 2016, 65% of countries researched by Euromonitor International had an overweight and obesity prevalence of over 50%, while in countries such as the US, Venezuela and Mexico the same figure reached over 70%. To put it in a monetary context, in 2008 obesity cost the US an estimated $147 billion ($483 per person), while the UK estimated a bill of £61 billion (£259 per person).
Parallel to the growing obesity pandemic sugar has been portrayed by the mainstream media as the number one demon in our food and drink. Supporting this is an ever increasing link between sugar consumption, obesity and diet-related disease. This negative depiction of sugar has reached a point where it is compared to other harmful substances, such as alcohol, tobacco and even certain hard drugs.
As Seattle Mayor, Ed Murray, recently said “Sugar is as bad as cigarettes in how we consume it." Extracting and demonising a single food ingredient might not always be the most productive approach in improving one’s diet, but when its consumption reaches sky high levels, it is certainly a good reason to put it in the spotlight. Tackling sugar is especially important, because it is abundant in food and drinks targeted at children and adolescents.
Euromonitor International’s Passport Nutrition data show that in countries with a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity, there is also a relatively higher intake of sugar from packaged food and soft drinks. This is true in both developed and emerging markets, the latter having previously been associated with malnution.
Source: blog.euromonitor.com