All highly processed carbs, not just sugar, contribute to obesity and other diseases
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association
Though refined sugar has increasingly been the target of public health advocates and researchers seeking to prevent obesity and its related diseases, it is not the only culprit in these health phenomena.An overview of studies on the effects of common sugars produced several conclusions. First, fructose in the form of whole fruit (fructose's natural form) within the limits of normal human consumption is not associated with negative health effects.
Second, consuming an excessive amount of processed sugar has adverse consequences for hepatic biochemical pathways, leading it to play an important role in obesity and other disease.
Finally, when certain forms of glucose are rapidly absorbed (such as processed sugar and high glycemic index starch) this can contribute to obesity and other diseases, at least in part because of their higher caloric content than fructose.
The authors conclude that instead of just focusing on refined sugar, public health efforts should encourage a reduction in all intakes of highly processed carbohydrates.