Question

Please discuss these topics below and remember to defend your answer with appropriate examples (only providing one example is inadequate):

1. What evidence supports the role of added sugars and refined grains in the development of obesity?
2. What evidence refutes or shows no association between these foods with obesity?
3. Do you think that the obesity epidemic in North America and worldwide is solely due to nutrition?

Answer 1

Role of added sugars and refined grains in the development of obesity

Sugars are added to baked foods, preserved foods, fermented foods, beverages and to balance the acidity. They provide better flavor, texture, and color to the foods. In an attempt to be healthier, slimmer and lose weight people often buy refined food and fall victim to convincing commercials.

Added sugars displace nutritionally superior foods in the diet, but they also deplete nutrients from other foods that have been consumed, as well as from body stores. The consumption of added sugars damages the mitochondria and hence impairs energy generation. Moreover, overconsuming added sugars may result in a kind of ‘internal starvation’ (via leptin and insulin resistance) leading to further hunger signals in the body. Added sugars promote nutrient and energy deficit and through this novel pathway promote obesity, according to a recent medical journal.

In a 2017 study of over 100,000 participants without celiac disease, researchers found no association between long-term dietary gluten consumption and heart disease risk. Gluten may also act as a prebiotic, feeding the “good” bacteria in our bodies. Arabinoxylan oligosaccharide is a prebiotic carbohydrate derived from wheat bran that has been shown to stimulate the activity of bifidobacteria in the colon. These bacteria are normally found in a healthy human gut. Changes in their amount or activity have been associated with gastrointestinal diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hence stripping grains of gluten has a negative impact.

No association between added sugars and refined grains in the development of obesity

According to a new study from the Healthy Lifestyles Research Center at Arizona State University (ASU) published in Advances in Nutrition. The researchers note that what counts is the number of consumed calories and not so much their source. Hence they say refined grain consumption is not associated with any of the adverse health effects it has been linked to, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Factors causing obesity other than nutrition:

1. Lack of physical activity/Lifestyle: Nature of work which involves sitting in a desk for most part of a day, using a car for even short distances, lack of facilities which facilitate physical activity such as parks or sidewalks.

2. Genetics: Inherited diseases such as Prader Willi syndrome, Leptin deficiency

3. Diseases of metabolism: Hypothyroidism, Cushings syndrome

4. Medical reasons: Certain corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives, antidepressants, medications for epilepsy, diabetes, and schizophrenia

5. Psychological factors: Binge eating associated with a range of emotions, sadness, depression, anger, boredom, lack of sleep, etc.