HFCS is as bad as any other refined sugar, and that includes carbs which are essentially sugar too. We're genetically programmed to be addicted to sugars because they're a naturally-rare high-density source of energy. Ever since farming came along and made them far more available, then 20th century farming came along and made them even more available and then started inventing ways to "modify" them and make the sugar dose even more concentrated and refined, at the same time as we all started living more sedentary lifestyles....well let's just say that even without HFCS the result was inevitable. HFCS just happens to be one of the bigger offenders. I'd still prefer any kind of sugar to the artificial sweetener alternatives, those things are truly evil.