Is Sugar the Problem?

The view of John Yudkin that sugar was responsible for the obesity crisis is discussed. However, when the diet is examined over long periods, there are many foods, other than sugary drinks, that are likely to be associated with weight gain. As such we should look at the entire diet when wishing to control weight. More generally, it appears that the consumption of sugar is a marker for an unhealthy diet and an unhealthy lifestyle. As such, directing attention only to sugar is unlikely to deal with many of the factors that encourage obesity. In several countries there have been large falls in the consumption of sugar, while the incidence of obesity has continued to rise.