Yes, that soda will make you fat
September 17, 2009
(PhysOrg.com) -- While health officials have long suspected the link between obesity and soda consumption, research released today provides the first scientific evidence of the potent role soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages play in fueling California’s expanding girth.
In their landmark study: Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and Its Link to Obesity in California, researchers from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) discovered a strong correlation between soda consumption and weight. Based upon data from more than 40,000 interviews conducted by the California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS), researchers found that adults who drink a soda or more per day are 27 percent more likely to be overweight than those who do not drink sodas, regardless of income or ethnicity.
"The science is clear and conclusive: soda is fueling California’s $41 billion a year obesity epidemic," says CCPHA Executive Director Dr. Harold Goldstein, an author of the research brief. "We drink soda like water. But unlike water, soda serves up a whopping 17 teaspoons of sugar in every 20-ounce serving."
Research shows that over the last 30 years Americans consumed 278 more calories per day even as physical activity levels remained relatively unchanged. One of the biggest changes in diet during that period was the enormous increase in soda consumption, accounting for as much as 43 percent of all new calories. According to Goldstein, that research, combined with this new data on soda consumption, offers conclusive proof of the link between soda and obesity.
And while adult soda consumption is troubling, consumption trends among children paint an even more alarming picture for the future health of California. The study found that 41 percent of young children (2-11 years of age) are drinking at least one soda or sugar-sweetened beverage every day. Adolescents (12-17) represent the biggest consumers, with 62 percent (over 2 million youths) drinking one or more sodas every day - the equivalent of consuming 39 pounds of sugar each year in soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages.
"Soda is cheap, sweet and irresistibly marketed to teens," says the study’s lead author, Dr. Susan H. Babey, a research scientist with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "Not enough teens know about the health and dietary risks of drinking huge quantities of what is essentially liquid sugar while television and advertising tell them it is ‘cool’ to do so."
There were major differences in adult consumption rates by county, the study discovered. Residents of the lowest soda consuming counties of Marin, San Francisco, Yolo and San Mateo drink far less soda than their counterparts in the heaviest drinking counties of Kings, Madera, Kern and Imperial. Nevertheless, the soda/obesity linkage still holds true - those who consume large amounts of soda, regardless of where they live, suffer disproportionally from obesity and overweight.
"If we are serious about tackling the obesity crisis, cutting back soda consumption has to be the top priority," Goldstein asserts. "Parents, communities, businesses and government all have a role to play in helping to reduce consumption. We cannot afford to raise another ‘Pepsi Generation.’"
Funding for the study was provided by The California Endowment, a private statewide health foundation that is a national leader in the childhood obesity prevention movement.
"This research clearly shows the very serious health risks of drinking soda and other sweetened beverages. I hope policymakers will read this report closely and think about what they can do to combat the obesity epidemic that is clearly tied to consuming too many sodas," says Dr. Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment.
Provided by UCLA
Sep 07, 2009
Thanks for informing us that consuming additional calories without increasing calorie expenditure leads to weight gain. I had no idea...
perhaps schools shouldnt be state run...
It's sad to see this article with only two comments, and both of them offtopic rants about other issues the posters are upset about. Gravity had to be proven and evaluated, even though it seemed obvious. Obesity has to be studied and evaluated, even though it also may seem obvious.
Recent research, published on this very site, has shown some pretty damning evidence against both regular and diet sodas. Heck, mountains of research will show that the Western diet, as a whole, is perhaps the only UNHEALTHY diet in existence!
Even though many of our health problems are linked directly to our poor diet, public policy has not reacted and "food" companies have continued to run amok, acting like the Tobacco companies did in the '80s. Honest research that really looks into the causes of these issues should always be welcome here.
In order to stay healthy its best to limit your soda intake as with all sugar. There's no win with soda tho, full fat makes u fat and diet gives you cancer. Why bother?
You have nutrition labels on almost everything(I've seen them on water bottles), public advertising campaigns and a worldwide culture trend that equates beauty with slimness, not to mention the wellness&organic trends. What more do you want? Prohibition? Fat tax? The only reason companies are still providing unhealthy foodstuffs is because there is a demand for them.
If people are dumb and weak-willed, then let them be fat as well. I could think of more energy/fuel efficient ways of cleaning the gene pool, but at least this one is self-sustained. A great mass gathers great momentum.
It's OK, broccoli won't kill you America :)
It's painful when parent's know that excessive soda intake causes obesity and tooth decay and still allow it in their home.
It's also very ridiculous that people still say diet soda is any better for you considering it's proven links to cancer.
Even though plastic bottles themselves have been proven to be a health risk, it's still safer to drink water from them.
Avoiding every health risk would be a pain, but avoiding ones that are so easy to avoid is just common sense.
I'm 68 years old, I've been eating bubble gums, cereal (Lucky Charms and stuff) maple syrup, honey, brown sugar (never white sugar), dark chocolate and all that good sweet stuff all my life. I'm 6' for 133lbs and I outrun any kids at any sports and any work. oh, and I smoke half pack a day.
sheeesh... here is how it works... at no time other than now, has man had so much so cheap that man could be fat en masse.
most living around the world is borderline and the idea of plenty going on for more than a part of one generation had never been heard of.
however, my comment wasnt about another subject. if you could actually connect dots and not have some false idea of blank slate and special conditions of man, you would realize that those coments lead to certain attitudes and certain weaknesses which out generations prior to progressive left education, didnt have a problem with.
in case you havent noticed its the children of the people who threw out their culture in the name of utopia that are the most in trouble.
as a test group i can hold up groups like the Amish, who dont have mass portlyness. but they also dont have that education put on them