Another Misleading Health Headline

The headline reads:

Can fruit make you fat? Natural sugar in fruit is ‘fuelling the nation’s obesity epidemic’

So – what do you think this story is all about?  How fruit can make you fat, right? 

A natural sugar found in fruit is fuelling the obesity epidemic, scientists say.

A study has shown that fructose – which is used to sweeten soft drinks and junk food  – might be more harmful than other types of sugar. In tests, fat people given large doses of fructose were more likely to put on weight around the stomach than those given glucose.

Doctors say this ‘intra-abdominal fat’ is the most harmful type and is linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Pure fructose is found in fresh fruit, fruit juice and jam.

OMG!  Stop eating fruit!  But wait.  What is the last paragraph in this story?

Experts point out that this does not mean we should stop eating fruit.

Fresh fruit contains relatively low levels of fructose – and the risks are outweighed by health benefits.

So.  The story is actually about fructose – primarily, high-fructose corn syrup, which is added to things like soft drinks and juices.  The story is not about fruit making you fat.  Just another example of health headline hyperbole.