Lack of evidence for high fructose corn syrup as the cause of the obesity epidemic (from the USDA)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22986683

Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Sep 18. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2012.157. [Epub ahead of print]

Lack of evidence for high fructose corn syrup as the cause of the obesity epidemic.

Klurfeld DM, Foreyt J, Angelopoulos TJ, Rippe JM.

Source

Human Nutrition, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA.

"While it is beyond the scope of the current commentary to discuss whether or not SSBs are a significant cause of obesity, it is worth noting that the epidemiologic literature in this area is mixed. Meta-analyses of normal consumption levels of fructose have yielded mixed results related to obesity. Randomized controlled trials at levels even exceeding normal human consumption have also been inconclusive related to SSBs and obesity. Nonetheless, there have even been calls to restrict or heavily tax SSBs as a means of reducing their consumption. These debates rage on, even though it is clear that public policy in such an important area should not be made in the absence of higher levels of proof than are currently available.

This debate is by no means settled. More and longer randomized controlled trials are clearly needed to establish an appropriate knowledge base related to sugar sweetened beverage consumption and its alleged link to obesity."