All sugar is not equal: New research on childhood obesity suggests that naturally occurring sugars can be beneficial

Sugar is commonly vilified for its negative health impacts — but not all forms of sugar are harmful, and some can be beneficial. Naturally occurring sugars should form an integral part of the daily diet for both children and adults

When it comes to sugar intake, defining the type of sugar is key. Photo: Getty

John Mac Ghlionn

In the ongoing mission to encourage healthy eating in children, more and more parents and educators have sugar in their crosshairs. However, as you read this, a profound reassessment of sugar's impact on the body is underway.

Recent revelations, brought to light at the prestigious European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy, challenge conventional wisdom, suggesting that it's not just about how much sugar children consume, but rather where that sugar comes from that influences their weight trajectory.