Studies on Sugar intake and overweight in South African black and white schoolchildren

Abstract

In primitive and emerging populations in rural areas, adults gain little or even no weight with age. In emerging populations in urban areas, also Western populations, adults gain considerable weight with age. Among children of all ethnic groups, it is usual for them to grow faster with rising socio-economic circumstances. Associated with these changes, the most conspicuous alterations in manner of life concern diet and physical activity. Whether it be Western populations during the last century, or present emerging populations in towns, the pattern of. pietary changes is the same, and includes marked increases in the consumption of fat and sugar. The accompanying decrease in everyday physical activity requires no enlargement. In view of increases in prevalences of overweight and obesity in children and adults, many regard the progressive rise in the sugar consumption to be the primary responsible factor. To throw light on the problem, height, weight, and daily sugar intake have been determined on South African Black and White school pupils. Briefly, observations revealed that in each ethnic - sex group studied, mean height and weight data of the upper, compared with the lower, third, in respect of sugar intake, were closely similar. In corresponding studies on two ethnic groups of adults, preliminary results lead to the same conclusions. Accordingly, our observations suggest that in the circumstances described, a high 'compared with a much lower intake of sugar does not promote overweight.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1650 (1974)