Call for papers - Sugar century: Impact of high-calorie foods on public health

Guest Editors

Maha Hoteit, PhD, Lebanese University and National Council for Scientific Research of Lebanon (CNRS-L), Lebanon
Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, PhD AdvAPD, FASLM, FIANE, FRSPH, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 16 June 2025

BMC Nutrition is calling for submissions to our Collection on sugar's impact on nutrition and public health. The "Sugar Century" refers to the profound effect that sugar and high-calorie foods have had on human diets and public health over the past century. As sugar consumption surges, so too have the rates of obesity and related chronic diseases, prompting a critical examination of the role of sugar in our diets. This Collection aims to explore the multifaceted relationship between sugar intake, caloric consumption, and health outcomes, providing a platform for researchers to share insights into the historical, cultural, and biological factors that have shaped our current understanding of sugar's impact on nutrition and health.

New Content Item This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Maha Hoteit, PhD, Lebanese University and National Council for Scientific Research of Lebanon, Lebanon

Dr Hoteit is a PhD holder in Nutritional Sciences with 12 years of experience in teaching and research at many Lebanese academic institutions. She is the coordinator of the food sciences unit at the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon. Her research interests lie in public health and nutrition, ranging from surveys, food composition data, clinical trials, and policy implementation. Dr Hoteit has published more than 70 studies between 2014 and 2024 aiming to improve the quality of life of communities living in Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Some of the research projects were achieved in collaboration with the regional office of the World Health Organization and the Francophone University Agency. She was nominated for the pedagogical innovation laureate from (AUF) Canada in 2022 and Techwomen 2023.

Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, PhD, AdvAPD, FASLM, FIANE, FRSPH, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Dr Louie is an expert in nutrition and dietetics, with a focus on sugar-related research. As an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian and a fellow of several prestigious organizations, Dr Louie has published over 120 papers on topics such as cardiology, diabetes, obesity, and nutrition. His work has appeared in leading journals, including Nature Reviews in Cardiology and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. His work has been cited more than 5,550 times.

About the collection

BMC Nutrition is calling for submissions to our Collection on sugar's impact on nutrition and public health. The "Sugar Century" refers to the profound effect that sugar and high-calorie foods have had on human diets and public health over the past century. As sugar consumption has surged, so too have the rates of obesity and related chronic diseases, prompting a critical examination of the role of sugar in our diets. This Collection aims to explore the multifaceted relationship between sugar intake, caloric consumption, and health outcomes, providing a platform for researchers to share insights into the historical, cultural, and biological factors that have shaped our current understanding of sugar's impact on nutrition and health.

Advancing our collective understanding of sugar's role in nutrition and public health is essential for developing effective strategies to combat obesity and related health issues. Recent advances in research have illuminated the biochemical pathways through which sugar influences metabolism and appetite regulation, as well as the social determinants that drive high-calorie food consumption. By continuing to investigate these areas, we can better inform public health policies, dietary guidelines, and educational campaigns aimed at reducing sugar intake and promoting healthier eating habits.

This Collection seeks to assemble cutting-edge research that delves into the impact of high calorie foods on public health, including key topics such as:

The role of sugar in obesity
High-calorie foods and public health
Carbohydrates and caloric intake
Interventions and policies to help reduce sugar reduction (regulations, restrictions, warning labels, taxes)
Sugar consumption trends over the century

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Sugar century: Impact of high calorie foods on public health from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Guest Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Guest Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.