This Spring a ‘sugar tax’ was introduced by the UK government on some fizzy drinks to try and tackle the growing problem of obesity in the UK. But the problem with the tax is it won't work.
Why? Because sugar alone cannot make you fat.
If you are in a ‘calorie deficit’ (that means consuming less calories than you are expending through your daily physical activities) then you won't gain weight, regardless of how much of those calories are made up from the sugar you eat.
Granted, sugar can spike insulin in the blood, but insulin spikes alone don't cause weight gain. Excess calories do, and although a diet high in sugar isn't particularly ‘healthy’, having the odd cake or can of Coke isn't going to do you much harm. In fact it's more likely to be detrimental to your dental health than make you fat.
It all comes down to moderation. Sugar shouldn't make up a large proportion of your diet, but there isn't a need to cut it out completely. Rather than demonising food groups and taxing food types in an attempt to solve a problem, educating the public properly on nutrition is the only real way to reduce the growing obesity epidemic.
Do you agree or disagree with Nathan? Let us know in the comments below or tweet him @NGBarn84. Nathan is a personal trainer and UKBFF Men's Physique Champion 2015. He's competing this month in Birmingham and London.
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