Sugar is an empty calorie.

Adding it to foods and drinks significantly increases their calorie content without adding any nutritional benefit. The body usually digests these foods and drinks quickly. This means that they are not a good source of energy.

Products that naturally contain sugar are different. For example, fruits and dairy products contain natural sugars. The body digests these foods at a slower rate, making them a lasting source of energy.

Such products also tend to contain other nutrients. For example, they also contain fiber and a range of vitamins and minerals.

The average adult in the United States consumes around 308 caloriesTrusted Source from added sugars per day. This is a lot more than the American Heart Association’s (AHA)Trusted Source recommendations of 100 calories from added sugars for females and 150 calories for males.

Consuming empty calories undermines the health benefits of consuming other foods and drinks that do have nutritional value. It can also cause imbalances, where nutrient deficits can lead to further health complications.

A significant risk of consuming excess dietary sugar is weight gain.

In most cases, sugary foods and drinks are high in calories. Consuming too many of these products will lead to weight gain, even with regular exercise. There is strong evidenceTrusted Source showing that excess dietary sugar is a cause of weight gain.

As the body usually digests products containing added sugars more quickly, they do not offset hunger for very long. This can lead to eating more regularly throughout the day and a greater calorie intake overall.

There is also some evidence to suggest that sugar can affect the biological pathways that regulate hunger.

Leptin is a hormoneTrusted Source that regulates hunger by determining how much energy the body needs. Disruption to leptin functioning can lead to weight gain and obesity.

A study in rats from 2011 revealed that a diet high in fat and sugar could lead to leptin resistance. Leptin resistance occurs when the body no longer responds to leptin correctly. The study authors found that removing sugar from the diet reversed leptin resistance.

Another studyTrusted Source from 2014 found that sugary drinks could be a particular problem for leptin resistance.

It is important to note that sugar does not cause weight gain and obesity by itself. Sugar is one of several causes. Being overweight or obese is the result of a complex interaction between diet, physical activity, genetics, and social and environmental factors.

However, limiting the amount of sugar in a diet is one of the simplest ways to prevent weight gain.

There is a link between consuming sugary drinks and developing type 2 diabetes.

It is not true that sugar causes diabetes. A high-calorie diet of any kind can lead to type 2 diabetes.

However, in most cases, diets high in sugar are high in calories. This can increase the risk of diabetes.

Sugary drinks are particularly problematic.

A meta-analysis of data from 310,819 people found that those with a high consumption of sugary drinks had a 26 percent greater risk of type 2 diabetes than those with a low consumption. The study defined “high consumption” as between one and two sugary drinks per day.

The American Diabetes Association recommend avoiding sugary drinks to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Sugar consumption can cause tooth decay, which may lead to the development of cavities.

After eating sugar, bacteria in the mouth formTrusted Source a thin layer of plaque over the teeth. These bacteria react with the sugars present in foods and drinks. This reaction triggers the release of an acid that damages teeth.

It is possible for the body to repair some of this damage itself. Over time, however, a diet high in sugar will cause lasting damage. This can lead to tooth cavities. Cavities are permeant holes that form on teeth.

Limiting the intake of foods high in sugar is one effectiveTrusted Source way to prevent tooth cavities.

High-sugar diets may increase the risk of heart disease.

The resultsTrusted Source of a 15-year study suggest that people with a lot of added sugar in their diet are significantly more likely to die from heart disease than people with minimal amounts of added sugar in their diet.

Again, research suggestsTrusted Source that sugary drinks may be particularly problematic for increasing the risk of heart disease. This association may be because sugary drinks are high in calories, do not affect hunger, and provide an insufficient amount of energy.

Although there is a clear link, more research will be necessary to better understand the relationship between sugar and heart disease.

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Added sugars can appear in many surprising products. Checking the contents of food before buying it is one way to avoid added sugar.

However, some food labels make it difficult to tell whether they contain added sugar, as there are many different names for it.

Some examples of other names for added sugar include:

• dextrose
• sucrose
• agave nectar
• maltose
• molasses
• honey
• high-fructose corn syrup
• corn sweetener
• crystalline fructose
• evaporated cane juice

To maintain a healthful diet, it is best for males to consume no more than 36 grams (g) of added sugar per day, and for females to consume no more than 25 g per day.

This is the recommendation from the AHATrusted Source. Currently, the average person in the U.S. consumes far more than these limits.

During a routine physical, a doctor may order one of the following tests:

Complete blood count

A complete blood count (CBC) measures a variety of the blood’s components, such as:

• red blood cells
• white blood cells
• hemoglobin
• platelets
• mean corpuscular volume (MCV) — the average size of a person’s red blood cells
• hematocrit — how much space red blood cells take up in the blood

A CBC test helps a doctor identify blood disorders or diseases, such as anemia, issues with clotting, inflammation, infection, or immune system disorders. A person will need to fast before a CBC test only if their doctor asks them to.

Blood enzyme tests

Blood enzyme tests measure the levels of specific enzymes in the body. The body produces enzymes to help control chemical reactions within the body.

Enzyme blood tests can help a doctor identify specific health problems, including a heart attack. If a doctor suspects a heart attack, they will check the levels of the cardiac troponin enzyme, which the heart releases when it is injured.

Blood clotting tests

A blood clotting test, also known as a coagulation panel, looks for a protein that helps the blood to clot. A doctor may order this test if they suspect the person may have a blood clotting disorder.

If a person is taking warfarin or other blood thinning medications, a doctor will likely use a specific blood clotting test as part of routine monitoring.

Lipoprotein panel

If a doctor wants to assess a person’s risk for developing coronary heart disease or other atherosclerotic problems, they will likely order a lipoprotein, or lipid, panel. A lipoprotein panel will provide information about a person’s:

• low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level
• high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level
• total cholesterol level
• triglycerides level in the blood

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, a person will need to fast for 8 to 12 hoursTrusted Source before a lipoprotein panel.

If the results indicate abnormal levels of any cholesterol or triglycerides, it could indicate that the person is at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Basic metabolic panel

The basic metabolic panel (BMP) measures the levels of different chemicals found in the plasma portion of the blood.

The BMP, also known as a blood chemistry 8 test, provides information about the bones, muscles, and organs.

A doctor will tell an individual whether they need to fast before a BMP test, and for how long.

BMP tests look at the following:

• Uncorrected calcium levels: Abnormal calcium levels could indicate a person has an underlying condition related to their kidneys or bones, cancer, malnutrition, or other diseases.
• Glucose level: Higher than normal blood glucose levels could indicate a person has diabetes or is at risk of developing diabetes. Some people may need to fast before a blood glucose test.
• Kidneys: The presence of excess waste products in the blood, such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, can indicate a problem with the kidneys.
• Electrolytes: The presence of abnormal electrolyte levels could indicate an issue with dehydration, kidneys, or other underlying conditions.