Deakin University. Australia: That Sugar Film's dramatic depiction of
how taking things to the extreme can be harmful might well have entertainment
value, but it has a Deakin University health scientist asking if it is casting
sugar in the right light.
"There is no
doubt that sugar is today's number one dietary demon," said Deakin's Associate
Professor Tim Crowe. "While nutrition scientists debate the harms or otherwise
of saturated fat, sugar is the one food we unite over we all agree we eat too
much of it and it's not good for us.
"The film's
release is timely given the World Health Organization's recent draft
recommendations to eat no more than 12 teaspoons (50 grams) per day, and to aim
for even half of that amount. And while it does well to shine a light on just
how damaging sugar can be and how it has pervaded our food supply, some of the
details are questionable."
Associate
Professor Crowe points to a number of aspects of the film that skew the true
sugar story.
IN
THE FILM: Actor Damon Gameau consumes the equivalent of 40 teaspoons
(around 160 grams) of sugar a day for 60 days by eating foods perceived as
being healthy such as fruit juice, sports drinks, low-fat yoghurts, muesli bars
and sugary breakfast cereals.
FACT:
It is true that the average Australian between the ages of 19 and 30 years eats
40 teaspoons of sugar a day but this accounts for all forms of sugar, including
what is found naturally in fruit, fruit products and milk. Using 40 teaspoons
of white sugar paints a sensational picture but it is not entirely true. The
actual amount of added sugar we eat
is more like 66 grams or about 16 teaspoons a day for the average adult.
IN
THE FILM: Gameau claims his weight gain happened despite eating the same
amount of food before the experiment.
FACT:
Only a superficial attempt was made to estimate how much food was eaten during
the experiment, making such claims about weight gain unreliable. There is
nothing insidious about sugar calories that can lead to greater weight gain. Its
effect on weight is from extra energy it adds to our diets, that's all. What
can make sugar fattening is the context it's normally eaten in. It increases
the calorie density of food and makes it more palatable and desirable which in
turn means people are more likely to eat more than is good for them.
IN
THE FILM: Whether sugar is inherently addictive is questioned
FACT:
If you're a rat, then sugar would most certainly be your drug of choice. In
humans, however, the science is at best hazy. The thing to remember is that
eating is addictive – just try going a day without food.
After the
short-term sugar-shock from watching the film wears off, Associate Professor
Crowe says there are a few simple changes people can make to eat less sugar and
improve their overall diet.
"My tip is
to start looking more closely at food labels and ingredient lists. The more
processed and convenient a food is, the more likely it will have extra sugar in
it," he said.
"Simpler
yet, ditch the label reading altogether and choose foods as close to their
natural state as possible. Many of these foods don't need a label and have a
very short ingredient list."
That Sugar Film is screening in
Australian cinemas this month.