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Consuming fructose instead of regular sugar does not lead to obesity
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Scientists have found that eating fructose instead of regular sugar does not lead to obesity, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Canadian scientists led by John Sievenpiper from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, have prepared a large review of studies on the effect of fructose on body weight. More than 30 studies were conducted. Participants received the same number of calories, but one group of subjects consumed fructose, and the other did not. In addition, 10 studies examined the effect of getting additional calories in the diet due to fructose.
It turns out that compared to other sugars, fructose does not cause weight gain. It is the total number of calories that matters, not their source, scientists say. Obesity occurs because a person gets too many calories from all sorts of sources, while spending too few.
It is worth recalling that fructose is a simple sugar found in fruits. And high-fructose corn syrup contains 50% glucose and 50% fructose and is widely used as a sweetener for drinks, candies and other industrial products. Fructose is also used in sweets for diabetics. Previously, nutritionists often associated excess weight with fructose consumption. However, at the moment, experts agree that there is no single product that is the cause of excess body weight. A complex of factors is at work here. And while all the mechanisms of obesity have not been fully revealed, it is very important not to overeat. And to ensure that calorie intake does not exceed expenditure.