Robert H. Lustig
Encyclopedia
Robert H. Lustig, MD is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
, at the University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF). He is nationally recognized in the field of neuroendocrinology
, with an emphasis on the regulation of energy balance by the central nervous system. He has a special interest in childhood obesity
. He has become publicly notable through his efforts to draw attention to the effects that the natural sugar fructose
can have on human and especially children's health if consumed in large amounts. On May 26, 2009, Robert Lustig gave a lecture called “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” which was posted on YouTube
the following July and has become a viral
success with over a million viewings. In this lecture, Lustig notably calls fructose a "poison
" and compares its metabolic effects with those of ethanol
. Lustig is particularly critical of the widespread use of High Fructose Corn Syrup
in the United States
.
in Manhattan. He obtained his bachelors degree from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. From there, he spent six years as a research associate in neuroendocrinology at The Rockefeller University
. He performed his pediatric residency at St. Louis Children's Hospital
, and his clinical fellowship at UCSF which he joined in 1984.
He has authored over 85 research articles and 45 chapters. He is the former Chairman of the Obesity Task Force of the Pediatric Endocrine Society, a member of the Obesity Task force of The Endocrine Society
, and on the Steering Committee of the International Endocrine Alliance to Combat Obesity.
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
, at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
(UCSF). He is nationally recognized in the field of neuroendocrinology
Neuroendocrinology
Neuroendocrinology is the study of the extensive interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system, including the biological features of the cells that participate, and how they functionally communicate...
, with an emphasis on the regulation of energy balance by the central nervous system. He has a special interest in childhood obesity
Childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects...
. He has become publicly notable through his efforts to draw attention to the effects that the natural sugar fructose
Fructose
Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple monosaccharide found in many plants. It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, along with glucose and galactose, that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion. Fructose was discovered by French chemist Augustin-Pierre Dubrunfaut in 1847...
can have on human and especially children's health if consumed in large amounts. On May 26, 2009, Robert Lustig gave a lecture called “Sugar: The Bitter Truth” which was posted on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
the following July and has become a viral
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
success with over a million viewings. In this lecture, Lustig notably calls fructose a "poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
" and compares its metabolic effects with those of ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
. Lustig is particularly critical of the widespread use of High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup
High-fructose corn syrup — also called glucose-fructose syrup in the UK, glucose/fructose in Canada, and high-fructose maize syrup in other countries — comprises any of a group of corn syrups that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fructose to produce...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Career
Robert Lustig grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Stuyvesant High SchoolStuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in Manhattan. He obtained his bachelors degree from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. From there, he spent six years as a research associate in neuroendocrinology at The Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
. He performed his pediatric residency at St. Louis Children's Hospital
St. Louis Children's Hospital
St. Louis Children's Hospital is an academic pediatric hospital providing tertiary level care in St. Louis, Missouri. SLCH is the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine. It is the seventh oldest children's hospital in the United States and the first children's...
, and his clinical fellowship at UCSF which he joined in 1984.
He has authored over 85 research articles and 45 chapters. He is the former Chairman of the Obesity Task Force of the Pediatric Endocrine Society, a member of the Obesity Task force of The Endocrine Society
The Endocrine Society
The Endocrine Society is a professional, international medical organization in the field of endocrinology and metabolism, founded in 1916 as The Association for the Study of Internal Secretions. The official name of the organization was changed to The Endocrine Society on January 1, 1952. It is a...
, and on the Steering Committee of the International Endocrine Alliance to Combat Obesity.
External links
- Sugar: The Bitter Truth UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public 7/2009 given by Dr. Lustig , Health and Medicine, Show ID: 16717. Accessed April 2011 (1 hour 30 mins)