The amount of sugar in our diets has increased significantly over the last 20 years. A particular concern is that children have small stomachs. Having too many of their calories from sugar crowds out other nutritious foods from their diet. When they're filling up on sugar, that's excess calories that can lead to obesity. Obesity in itself can lead to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and some forms of cancer.
Sugar also occurs naturally in a lot of food.
Dairy foods are very high in a sugar called lactose and fruits are very high in a sugar called fructose. But, those sugars occur naturally along with the fiber, vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. These nutrients fortify our bodies against heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and some cancers. In 1996, on average 29.3 percent of American adults were obese, compared to 32 percent of Michigan's adults. The Michigan Department of Community Health expects that rate to rise to as high at 37 percent by the year 2000.