In Modern Diet, Meat and Sugar Food Components Contribute to Worldwide Obesity at Similar Levels

The public have been educated that sugar intake should be minimized to avoid obesity, but no such
recommendation regarding meat exists. Country-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) estimates of obesity
and overweight were obtained. These were matched with country-specific per capita per day
availability of major food groups (meat, sugar, starch crops, fibers, fats and fruits), total calories, per
capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP PPP), urbanization and physical inactivity prevalence. Fisher’s
r-to-z transformation and Beta (B) range (B ± 2 Standard Error) overlapping were used to test for
potential differences between correlations and regressions results respectively. Pearson correlation
showed that sugar and meat availability significantly correlated with obesity prevalence to the same
extent. These relationships remained in partial correlation analysis (r=0.359, p<0.001 and r=0.354,
p<0.001 respectively) when controlling for calories availability, physical inactivity, urbanization and
GDP PPP. Fisher's r-to-z transformation revealed no significant difference in Pearson correlation
coefficients (z=-0.53, p=0.60), partial correlation coefficients (z=-0.04, p=0.97) between sugar and
meat availability with obesity prevalence. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that sugar and
meat availability were the two most significant predictors of obesity prevalence in both Enter
(B=0.455, SE=0.113, p<0.001 and B=0.381, SE=0.096, p<0.001, respectively) and Stepwise
(B=0.464, SE=0.093, p<0.001 and B=0.433, SE=0.072, p<0.001, respectively) models. B ranges
overlapping found in the Enter (0.289-0.573) and Stepwise (0.294-0.582) models showed sugar and
meat availability correlated to obesity with no statistically significant difference. Sugar and meat
availability comparably contributes to global obesity prevalence. Dietary guidelines should also
advocate to minimize meat consumption to avoid obesity. Similar to the public campaign against
excessive sugar consumption, considering the findings of adverse effects of meat on obesity and the
environmental impact of meat production, the country authorities should also advise the public not to
adopt a high-meat diet for long-term healthy weight management.