Sugar Rush: Science, Politics and the Demonisation of Fatness

The crusade against sugar became an urgent societal problem in the 21st century, with sugar being transformed into the common enemy in a 'war on obesity'. Sugar rush explores the social life of sugar in its rise to infamy, revealing how competing understandings of the 'problem of sugar' are smoothed over through appeals to science and the demonization of fatness. It argues that this rush to blame sugar is a phenomenon of its time, finding fertile ground in the era of austerity and its attendant inequalities, and invites readers to resist the comforting certainties of the attack on sugar.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

In the early 2000s, the crusade against sugar emerged as a pressing societal concern, demanding immediate action. Sugar, once considered a harmless indulgence, became the scapegoat in a renewed "war on obesity," targeting "unhealthy foods" and the individuals who enjoyed them. The debate surrounding sugar's harms intensified, with claims of its detrimental effects on health and well-being gaining widespread attention. However, the question remained: Are the evils of sugar solely based on scientific evidence, or are there other factors at play?

Sugar rush delves into the social dynamics surrounding sugar's rise to infamy. The book uncovers how different perspectives on sugar's "problem" are reconciled through appeals to science and the demonization of fatness. It exposes how politics and popular culture exploit our anxieties about food choices, perpetuating a rush to blame sugar. Drawing from a wide range of sources, including journalism, government policy, public health campaigns, self-help books, autobiographies, and documentaries, the book argues that this blame-game against sugar is a product of its time, finding fertile ground in the era of austerity and its attendant inequalities.

Through its comprehensive analysis, sugar rush invites readers to challenge the prevailing narratives surrounding sugar. It reveals how this attack represents a politics of despair, rather than a means to disrupt the inequality-ridden status quo. The book encourages readers to resist the comforting certainties of the anti-sugar campaign and to critically examine the broader societal implications of this phenomenon. By doing so, sugar rush aims to empower individuals to make informed food choices and to advocate for policies that promote health and well-being for all.

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 214 x 139 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526151551