Sucres et poids corporel : analyse des données épidémiologiques

It is often suggested that the dietary intake of sugars is related to the increasing incidence of obesity in western countries. However, epidemiological evidence is conflicting. There is confusion over terminology, with a large number of terms used to describe sugars in the diet and inadequate data on the sugars content of food in many countries, making examinations of trends in intake over time and comparisons between countries difficult. Food balance information is also frequently used incorrectly to describe intake. For those countries with good data on intake of sugars from individual surveys, there is little evidence for either adults or children, of an increase in intake of sugars over the time period over which obesity incidence has increased. In cross sectional surveys, sugars intake is not related to BMI and most often the inverse is found. No longitudinal studies of sugars intake and body weight changes are available. For those longitudinal studies examining intake of sugar sweetened beverages or fruit juice and relationships to body weight, there are conflicting results and conclusions. Hence it cannot currently be concluded that there is a relationship between intake of sugars in the diet and weight gain. Better sugars intake data and longitudinal studies using such data to examine changes over time are needed.