Florida study says fructose may be behind the increasing number of obese Americans

• University of Florida researchers have identified a possible reason for rising obesity rates, and fructose may by the culprit.
• Fructose is found in fruit, honey, table sugar and other sweeteners, and in many processed foods.
• The scientists say Fructose may trick you into thinking you are hungrier than you should be, and animal studies have revealed its role in a biochemical chain reaction that triggers weight gain and other features of metabolic syndrome - the main precursor to type 2 diabetes.
• In further studies, investigations also prevented rats from packing on the pounds by interrupting the way their bodies processed this simple sugar, even when the animals continued to consume it.
• The findings add to growing evidence-implicating fructose in the obesity epidemic and could influence future dietary guidelines.
• UF researchers are now studying whether the same mechanism is involved in people.
• Richard J. Johnson, M.D, says, "There may be more than just the common concept that the reason a person gets fat is because they eat too many calories and they don't do enough exercise."
• He continues, "And although genetic predispositions are obviously important, there's some major environmental force driving this process.
• Our data suggest certain foods and, in particular, fructose, may actually speed the process for a person to become obese."
• Researchers say that physical inactivity; increased caloric intake and eating high-fat foods also are for part of the problem.
• However data shows Americans are eating more fructose than ever since its introduction in the 1970's.
• It's in everything from soft drinks, jellies, pastries, ketchup and table sugar, among other foods, and is the key component in high fructose corn syrup, a sugar substitute introduced in the early 1970s.