EatingWell Interviews Robert Lustig on America's Obesity Epidemic

By Rachael Moeller Gorman, "3 Questions for the Sugar Warrior," January/February 2013

We talk with Robert Lustig about the role of government in obesity issues, why sugar is addictive and how people can lose weight.

READER'S COMMENT:

"Despite how charming and convincing Dr Lustig seems in interviews and on Youtube, the most telling litmus test is to see how poorly Dr Lustig does when talking to his fellow scientists. He was certainly called out for overstating the...

You write that the obesity epidemic arose from food becoming an addictive substance and a commodity. Why has this happened?
“Sugar is weakly addictive and has hijacked our biochemistry: 80 percent of American supermarket foods are now laced with added sugar. As [processed food manufacturers] took fat out and put sugar in, we bought more. Also, the way you make food storable—and cheaper—is to get rid of the fiber. Ultimately this is a fight between your wallet and your health.”

Next: How Can We Lose Weight? »