The love of sweet foods has been enjoyed by many since people discovered honey and dates, but the majority of people believe that sugar makes you gain weight and there has always been a negative association with sugar and obesity. However, there is no clear and consistent proof that if you increase sugar intake there is an increase in BMI.

People most often gain weight from increasing their total energy of their diets, which usually means consuming more energy dense foods which contains added fat and sugar.

Research does not support the idea that eating sweet food stimulates your appetite and promotes overeating. One is allowed five to 10 percent of the total energy of your diet as sugar. The goal is to use food and drinks containing sugar sparingly (meaning in moderation) and not between meals.

Try to avoid using sugar and sugary foods and drinks more than four times a day, try to only consume sugar with meals. Don’t allow soft drinks or sweets crowd out other foods you need. Remember the key to losing weight is to eat in moderation, and this is great news as this means that one is allowed a small amount of sweetness in your diet.