Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 15 June (HL593), whether the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also has plans to review evidence on the link between foods high in carbohydrates and obesity; and if not, whether they will review their advice on the consumption of carbohydrates prior to the completion of the SACN review on saturated fats.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published its report Carbohydrates and Health in July 2015. A copy of this document is attached.

SACN concluded that increases in sugar consumption lead to increases in energy intake, and that consuming sugary drinks results in weight gain and increases in body mass index in children and adolescents. The committee also concluded that the evidence considered for this review does not support the hypothesis that diets higher in their total carbohydrate content cause weight gain.

SACN has no plans to review the evidence, or their advice, on carbohydrates again in the near future.