Why did we get so fat, so fast? Toxic sugar, HFCS, obesity and the blame game...

21-Dec-2012 - Last updated on 18-Dec-2012 at 16:50 GMT

We've all heard the statistics - almost 36% of Americans are now obese. But 50 years ago, it was just 13%. So why did we get so fat, so quickly? And what role did sugar - and specifically high fructose corn syrup - have to play?

To answer these questions, FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Dr John S White, president, White Technical Research at the IFT show this year: Why did we get so fat, so fast? Toxic sugar, HFCS, obesity and the blame game...

Two months later, food industry consultant and cardiologist Dr James Rippe (pictured) published a comment piece in the International Journal of Obesity alleging that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is “one of the most misunderstood food ingredients”, which continues to be lambasted in the media and on the internet long after the scientific debate over its relative contribution to the obesity epidemic vs sugar has run its course: Cardiologist: High fructose corn syrup is 'one of the most misunderstood food ingredients'

However, later in September, HFCS and sugar were both in the spotlight again following the publication of new research debating the role that sugary drinks play in the nation’s expanding waistline: Downsize me: Will NYC-style portion curbs help battle the bulge?

But is soda responsible for as many of the empty calories in our kids' diets as some commentators claim?

According to data unveiled in October at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), the percentage of American children drinking carbonated soft drinks has actually declined noticeably across all age groups since 2006: FNCE hot topic: The percentage of American kids drinking soda has dropped noticeably since 2006

A month later, though, and HFCS was back in the headlines following the publication of a new study reporting an association between HFCS consumption and the incidence of diabetes, although the findings were dismissed by the Corn Refiners Association: Correlation vs causation: Is there a link between HFCS and diabetes?