I read an interesting article on a french web site. It's based on a study called :

Assocation between sugars consumption and calcium fiber consumption - V. Deschamps, S. Daniel, DA. Cassuto, MA Chalres, JM Borys; Inserm U25, Villejuif, CEDUS, paris Association Fleurbaix laventie Ville Sante, Lille, France

This is a summary of the article, as I am sure most won't appreciate if just cut and paste the french version

The study is on ongoing 10 years follow up of 1459 people, both adults and children.

They compared sugar consumption among 3 age groups: 8-13 years, 14-17 years and 18 and over. Within each age groups they compared the group who ate the most amount of simple carbs to the group who ate the most. They found that adolescents were the biggest consumers of sugar with an average of 91 grams per day. The group who consumed the most simple carbs also consumed the most fat, proteins, calcium and fibers compared to the other group.

The strange thing however, is they found that the group who consumed the most simple carbs happened to have a lesser BMI than the same age group who ate the least amount of simple carbs. The percentage of overweight individuals was also lower.

The researchers concluded these surprising results were caused by the increased consumption of fibers and calcium.

Another interesting note is that the groups who ate the most simple carbs considered themselves to have an appropriate weight and didn't watch their weight or try to diet compared to the other groups.

Interesting results that seem somehow counterintuitive. Not sure what to make of them.

---- we come from France (the coneheads, Saturday Night Live)