HFCS Not to Blame for Obesity

Over the past year, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been seen as the culprit behind the increasing obesity rate in the U.S. However researchers explain that no evidence exists to prove that claim, only hypotheses needing to be tested exist.

Maureen Storey, director of Virginia Tech's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, says that scientists agree obesity is a multi-factor problem that is not just about diets or lifestyle decisions. And she adds there are "a lot of research gaps" with no scientific literature directly examining HFCS and sucrose head-to-head.

There are some hypotheses in the scientific world that only correlate increased obesity with increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup. Gil Leveille, author of "Array of Innovative Food Ingredients Providing Consumer Choices," says correlation and association is an unscientific way to examine the issue. If one wanted to look at the correlation of increased use of cell phones, computers and video games with the growing obesity rate, it'd likely be even greater, he says.

Over the past 30 years high fructose corn syrup has increased, but in a nearly one-to-one ratio with taking sucrose out of foods. The food industry prefers corn syrups liquid form for pumping from one location to the next; sucrose is primarily in crystal form and must come in bulk. Given that high fructose corn syrup's composition is very similar to sucrose, Storey "couldn't imagine" that bodies metabolize HFCS vastly differently than sucrose.

Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, adds that USDA data shows that table sugar and high fructose corn syrup have been flat for several years. "Even though rates of obesity continue to climb, the per capita consumption of sugar remains flat," she says.

The one proven high fructose corn syrup has shown an increase of is more dental care and cavities, says John White, president of the White Technical Research and author of "High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sucrose: Reassuring Similarities, Complementary Differences."