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Updated: Mar 10, 2026

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
Published on: July 16, 2016
What is the appropriate upper limit for added sugars consumption?
James M Rippe1, John L Sievenpiper2, Kim-Anne Lê2
1J.M. Rippe is with the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA; and the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA. J.L. Sievenpiper is with the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St Michael's Hospital; the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital; the Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis and Clinical Trials Unit, St Michael's Hospital; and the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. K.-A. Lê is with Nestec Ltd, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland. J.S. White is with White Technical Research, Argenta, Illinois, USA. R. Clemens is with the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California; and the International Center for Regulatory Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. T.J. Angelopoulos is with the School of Health Sciences, Emory and Henry College, Emory, Virginia, USA. jrippe@rippelifestyle.com.
Global increases in obesity and diabetes may be linked to added sugars. While avoiding excessive sugar is prudent, the scientific basis for strict consumption limits remains unsettled.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Metabolic Disease Research
Background:
- Worldwide obesity and diabetes rates have surged dramatically in the last 30 years.
- Increased consumption of added sugars is a suspected contributor to these escalating health crises.
- Major health organizations recommend limiting added sugar intake due to potential health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific evidence linking sugar consumption to chronic health conditions.
- To examine the putative association between sugars and obesity, diabetes, heart disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome.
- To evaluate the scientific basis for current restrictive guidelines on sugar consumption.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of scientific studies.
- Analysis of epidemiological data and clinical trial results.
- Synthesis of evidence on the physiological effects of sugars.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a link between excessive sugar intake and adverse health outcomes.
- The association between added sugars and conditions like obesity and diabetes is supported by multiple studies.
- However, the strength of evidence and specific thresholds for harm are still debated.
Conclusions:
- Avoiding excessive caloric intake from sugars is advisable for public health.
- The scientific foundation for strict, quantitative limits on sugar consumption requires further robust investigation.
- More research is needed to definitively establish causal links and inform evidence-based dietary guidelines.
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