Expert debunks sugar myth, says lifestyle, not sugar causes obesity

Public health physician and executive member of the Community Health Empowerment Foundation, Dr. Godswill Iboma, has clarified that sugar is not the direct cause of obesity and diabetes, contrary to popular belief.

Speaking at a health workshop organised by the Community Health Empowerment Foundation in Lagos, Dr. Iboma explained that while excessive intake of any nutrient can have health implications, scientific evidence does not support the claim that sugar alone causes non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes.

The workshop, themed “Debunking the Linkages Between Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs),” gathered health stakeholders to examine misconceptions about sugar intake and its alleged direct link to metabolic disorders.

“Sugar has been demonised for centuries alongside alcohol and tobacco. But unlike tobacco or alcohol, there is no conclusive evidence that moderate sugar consumption directly causes non-communicable diseases. It’s not about sugar in isolation. It’s about balance: how much we eat, how much we move, and how our bodies process energy,” Dr. Iboma said.

He emphasised that lifestyle factors — including diet, exercise, socio-economic conditions, and genetics — are the true drivers of NCDs, not sugar itself. 

“Public health should empower people to live better, not punish them for what they eat. When we understand the science, we make better choices — as individuals, as policymakers, and as a society,” he added.

Highlighting sugar’s biological importance, Dr. Iboma explained that glucose, derived from sugar, is the body’s primary energy source, powering the brain, muscles, and vital organs. 

Without adequate glucose, he noted, the body’s energy systems weaken, causing fatigue and cognitive decline.

“Carbohydrates, including sugars, are not enemies. They are essential nutrients that provide the energy we need for physical activity, mental alertness, and overall body function,” he said, noting that the brain alone consumes about 20 percent of the body’s glucose at rest.

While advocating moderation, Dr. Iboma warned that excessive or unbalanced sugar consumption — especially without physical activity — can be harmful. 

“The problem is not sugar itself but how we consume it; often in large quantities and without adequate exercise to burn it off,” he said.

The workshop also assessed the effectiveness of sugar taxes, including Nigeria’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax introduced in 2022. 

Dr. Iboma cautioned that such measures, while aimed at discouraging consumption, may not deliver significant health benefits without scientific evaluation.

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“Taxes may reduce sales temporarily, but they rarely reduce obesity or NCD rates in the long term,” he argued, citing evidence from countries like Mexico, the UK, and South Africa, where such taxes produced minimal impact. 

He instead advocated for nutrition education, community-based fitness programmes, and collaborations between government and the food industry to promote healthy reformulations and informed choices.

Dr. Iboma also urged journalists to report scientific findings responsibly. “When science is oversimplified, the public suffers. Media has a duty to educate, not alarm,” he said.