Sugar Is Making You Fat: WHO Urges A Dramatic Drop To Fight Obesity

Many foods contain hidden traces of sugar that can increase blood pressure, cholesterol levels, risk of tooth decay and many other health issues.

The World Health Organization (WHO) urged a dramatic drop in consumption of sugar on Wednesday, particularly in products that hold hidden amounts of sugar, like certain condiments, in the hopes of fighting obesity, according to Reuters. 

As it stands, health-hazardous free sugars are in the form of table sugar, fructose or glucose, and added to many foods and drinks via manufacturers, cooks and consumers and are typically present in substances like fruit juices and honey. These new guidelines are not referring to natural sugars.

They are, instead, referencing sugars that are "hidden" in many foods we are eating every day, from ketchup to bread.

Previous evidence has linked sugar intake to weight gain. Fructose, the hormone that regulates human metabolism and energy that's secreted by the pancreas, can become resistant if you're chronically eating sweet snacks. Insulin resistance can also lead to type 2 diabetes over time. 

Now, the new guidelines are hoping to reduce the amount to less than 10 percent of daily energy intake--or about 50 grams or 12 teaspoons of sugar for adults, according to the health organization.

The WHO had been considering this reduction for over a decade. However, the UN health organization made the decision following more discussions among WHO member states.

Researchers have also noted that the five-percent recommendation also remains "conditional" as some epidemiological studies were carried out in populations with such low sugar intake to allow a clear comparison.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).