Experts Respond - High Fructose Corn Syrup and Obesity

Is high fructose corn syrup responsible for the rising rate of childhood obesity?

The American Medical Association (AMA) concluded that "high fructose syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners."

“No single food or ingredient is the cause of obesity or overweight children,” said James M. Rippe, M.D., Cardiologist and Biomedical Sciences Professor at the University of Central Florida. “Excessive calories – from whatever source – can promote weight gain in children and adults alike.”

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) concluded that "No persuasive evidence supports the claim that high fructose corn syrup is a unique contributor to obesity."

Is high fructose corn syrup to blame for obesity?

"There’s no one reason why we’ve seen the escalating rates of childhood obesity -- it all comes down to calorie balance. Kids are eating too many calories and not burning off those calories by being active," said Kris Clark, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.C.S.M., assistant professor and Director of Sports Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University. "It’s a reality that kids are going to have some sugar in their diets, whether that’s table sugar, honey, pancake syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. Just be sure the majority of the added sugars they consume are from a nutrient-rich food or beverage, and practice moderation with concentrated sweets like candy and desserts."

“It is tempting to blame HFCS for the increase in the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. since the increased use of HFCS temporally coincides with the increase in the prevalence of obesity. It is important to emphasize that the simultaneous occurrence of two events does not necessarily mean that one caused the other,” noted Arthur Frank, M.D., Medical Director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program. “The prevalence of obesity and diabetes is increasing even more rapidly in parts of the world where HFCS is not used in any significant amounts.”