The California Center for Public Health advocacy claims that "the average American consumes 50 gallons of soda and other sweetened beverages each year." Soda, once an occasional treat to beat the heat on a hot summer day, has become a national obsession.
The latest science is very clear on this issue: those that satisfy their sweet tooth with soda are much more likely to be obese.
Obesity Risk
Soda intake and obesity are closely tied -perhaps more than any other single food. David Ludwig, MD who heads the Boston Children's Hospital Optimal Weight for Life Program and his colleagues at Harvard found that soda was the only food that had a direct cause and effect relationship with obesity.
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research estimates that those that drink soda regularly are 27 percent more likely to be obese than those that don't drink soda at all.
While the link between obese people and soda may be clear, scientists have yet to figure out why soda increases obesity risk to such a degree.
Calories
One of the ways soda may contribute to obesity is its high caloric content. According to NutritionData.com, a 16 oz bottle of cola contains 200 calories -more than 10 percent of the total recommended calories for women.
A high caloric intake is thought to be one of the prime factors contributing to the current obesity epidemic.
Sugar
Harvard University of Public Health reports that a sugary diet is correlated with obesity rates. Soda, containing about 3g of sugar per ounce, is a highly concentrated form of sugar. The primary source of sugar in soda is high fructose corn syrup.
Diet Soda
However, diet soda may not be safe either. According to a June 2004 meeting of the American Diabetes Association, diet soda intake is actually a larger risk factor for obesity than it's sugary cousin. Scientists aren't sure why this is, but they speculate that artificial sweeteners cause diet soda drinkers to eat more throughout the day.
Better Options
To reduce your soda consumption, and obesity risk, replace both diet and full calorie soda with healthy beverages like water, 100 percent juice, and skim milk.
References
- Publichealthadvocacy.org: Sugar- Sweetened Beverages: Extra Sugar, Extra Calories, and Extra Weight
- CNN.com:Nutritionists: Soda making Americans drink themselves fat
- Escholarship.org:Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and its Link to Obesity
- Nutritiondata.self.com:Carbonated beverage, cola, with higher caffeine
- Health.harvard.edu:Sugar and obesity : high calorie drinks to blame?
- Arizonaadvancedmedicine.com: Soda Pop and Diet Soda - Obesity and Hyperactivity in a Can
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