High_Fructose_Corn_Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup and Weight Gain Among College Freshmen NFS 4480 Introduction It is widely known that obesity is consistently on the rise and a legitimate problem in the United States. Weight began to become an issue in the 1970s, which is precisely when the use of sugar substitutes rose over 1000% (Basciano, 2005). It is no secret that convenience foods have taken over the market at grocery stores. However, most of these convenience foods contain the little-known sweetener known as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This cheap sweetener’s use has jumped over 4,000% in the last several years (Callahan, 2006). On the average, Americans consume 200 calories a day from HFCS alone (Environmental Nutrition, 2007). Convenience food is cheap and easy, which is a must in the life of college freshmen. The purpose of this study is to investigate college freshman knowledge about their diet and its impact on weight. Literature Review This review of literature examines two strands of research: (a) high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and (b) college freshman diet and activity patterns. High Fructose Corn Syrup. High fructose corn syrup has recently become a highly tested and researched product. According to Wikipedia, high fructose corn syrup refers to a group of corn syrups that have undergone enzymatic processing in order to increase their fructose content and are then mixed with pure corn syrup (High fructose corn syrup, 2007). It is used as a sugar substitute to sweeten products such as soda, cereal, condiments, syrups, snack foods, baked goods, dairy products, jams, and jellies. High fructose corn syrup provides sweetness, enhances flavor, promotes freshness, and acts as a preservative in foods (Uses & Benefits, 2007). Due to these characteristics, high fructose corn syrup is used in many of the foods that Americans eat every day. Finding sweetened food that does not contain HFCS is a challenge (Environmental Nutrition, 2007). Kummer (2006) sums it up, “Drinks sweetened with corn syrup taste like only their flavoring, and the effect is a clobbering sweetness, as if someone had come up behind you, held your nose, and poured syrup down your throat” (p. 128). The human body processes fructose differently than simple sugars. It encourages fat production by the liver and interferes with hormones that regulate body weight (Child Health Alert, 2004). Unlike glucose, fructose does not stimulate the secretion of insulin, which is readily involved in the regulation of body adiposity through its actions in the central nervous system to inhibit food intake and increase energy expenditure (Teff, 2004). Also, fructose increases the production of ghrelin, a hormone that promotes hunger, and it does not increase the secretion of leptin, a hormone that promotes satiety. Thus, fructose makes you feel hungry longer, making it easy for one to eat more food. Fructose initially goes through glycolysis to be used as energy, but when there is too much, the excess fructose is stored as fat (Teff). College Freshman Diet and Activity Patterns. The “freshman 15” is not myth (Kelly, 2003). Students on the average gain 4.2 pounds during their first semester. This is close to 11 times the weight gain expected for 17 to 18 year olds, and almost 20 times the average weight gain of the American adult (Kelly). Dietary and activity patterns of many college students predispose them to future health problems. Many students move away from home, causing behavioral and lifestyle changes. Often times these changes include being sedentary and increasing caloric intake (Bray, 2004). It is all too easy to make a run to a fast food restaurant or microwave a frozen dinner every day than to cook up a well-balanced meal. Beverages such as soft drinks and juices contain high amounts of high fructose corn syrup. Increased consumption of these beverages is also linked to weight gain (Bray). In fact, this is one of the leading suspects in the search for why obesity is rising in the United States. Conclusion. It is no surprise that HFCS is blamed for numerous health problems, primarily its role in the 74% increase in obesity that this country has seen since 1991 (Kummer, 2006). Lacking motherly advice and cooking, freshmen often take the easiest route to filling their stomach—the vending machine. Methodology The purpose of this study is to investigate college freshman knowledge about their diet and its impact on weight. Appropriate IRB forms have been submitted. Participants. Participants will be voluntary freshmen at Southern Utah University (SUU). All SUU freshmen are enrolled in UNIV 1000 classes; approximately 1358 students. Procedures/Instrumentation. A detailed survey of 25 questions will be given to every freshman student in their SUU UNIV 1000 class (Appendix A). The survey includes questions concerning: eating habits, knowledge about HFCS, and a self-report of weight. The survey will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Data Analysis. Likert questions will be averaged, open-ended questions will be word analyzed for patterns, and the weight change will be averaged. References Basciano, H., Federico, L., & Adeli, K. (2005). Fructose, insulin resistance, and metabolic dyslipidemia. Nutrition and Metabolism, 2, retrieved April 14, 2007, from http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/5 Bray, G. A., Nielsen, S. J., & Popkin, B. M. (2004). Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79(4), 537-543. Callahan, M. (2006, October). Sugar smack. Health, 150-152. Child Health Alert. (2004, September). Is high fructose corn syrup the cause of obesity'. [Brochure]. Massachusetts: Author. Environmental Nutrition. (2007, February). Weight gain, heart disease: Is high-fructose corn syrup to blame'. [Newsletter]. Norwalk, CT: Author. High fructose corn syrup. (2007, April). Retrieved April 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup Kelly, K. (2003). Weight in America. U.S. News & World Report, 135(4), 54. Kummer, C. (2006, June). Sweet tea. The Atlantic Monthly, 125-128. Teff, K. L., Elliot, S. S., Tschop, M., Kieffer, T. J., Radar, D. et al. (2004). Dietary fructose reduces circulating insulin and leptin, attenuates postprandial suppression of ghrelin, and increases triglycerides in women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89(6), 2963-2972. Uses & Benefits. (2007). Retrieved April 14, 2007, from http://www.hfcsfacts.com