Experts Call For Action To Correct Harmful Health Narratives On Sugar-Based Drinks

Medical experts in the country have called for a nationwide campaign to highlight sugar’s biological importance, lamenting its demonisation as a dietary villain.

“Glucose is the body’s primary fuel, essential for brain function, muscle activity, and organ health. Carbohydrates, including sugars, are not enemies. They are nutrients,” they said.

At a one-day health workshop held in Lagos and organised by the Community Health Empowerment Foundation, stakeholders in health reporting gathered to interrogate the science behind sugar, metabolism, and disease. Themed, “Debunking the Linkages Between Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, SSBs,” the event urged a shift from fear-driven policies to data-driven public health strategies.

Speaking at the event, a medical parasitologist and Senior Lecturer at Eko University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Dr. Godswill Iboma, delivered a critique of what he described as the ‘centuries-old demonisation of sugar’ likening its vilification to that of tobacco and alcohol, albeit without the scientific justification.

“There is no conclusive evidence that moderate sugar consumption directly causes NCDs,” Dr Iboma asserted, citing peer-reviewed studies from the ‘European Journal of Internal Medicine (2022)’ and ‘Frontiers in Nutrition (2023)’. “The real culprits are poor dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles, and genetic predispositions, not sugar in isolation.”

He emphasised that sugar, far from being a dietary villain, plays a vital biological role. “Glucose is the body’s primary fuel, essential for brain function, muscle activity, and organ health. Carbohydrates, including sugars, are not enemies. They are nutrients,” he said.

Dr. Iboma noted that the human brain alone consumes approximately 20 percent of the body’s glucose at rest. When consumed in moderation and alongside fibre, protein, and micronutrients, sugar supports muscle recovery and nutrient absorption.

“The problem is not sugar—it’s imbalance,” he stressed. “Overconsumption without physical activity is the issue. Public health should empower people to live better, not punish them for what they eat.”

The workshop also scrutinised Nigeria’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax, introduced in 2022 to curb unhealthy consumption and generate revenue. While acknowledging the policy’s intent, Dr Iboma questioned its efficacy, warning that taxation without scientific rigour risks being both ineffective and regressive.

“Taxes may reduce sales temporarily, but they rarely reduce obesity or NCD rates in the long term,” he said, referencing case studies from Mexico, the UK, and South Africa. “These countries saw minimal improvements in public health outcomes.”

Instead, he advocated for a multi-pronged approach: combining nutrition education, community fitness initiatives, and public-private partnerships to reformulate food products and promote healthier choices. “Public health policy must be driven by data, not assumptions or populism,” he declared.

Iboma also issued a stern warning to the media, urging journalists to report health science responsibly. “When science is oversimplified, the public suffers,” he said. “The media has a duty to educate, not alarm.”

The workshop concluded with a call for the Nigerian government to invest in public awareness campaigns that reflect scientific consensus rather than popular sentiment. As the country grapples with rising NCD rates, he insisted that only a holistic, evidence-based strategy can deliver lasting change.