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Coca Cola gave $1.5 million to scientists who say soft drinks don't cause obesity

A leading cardiologist says that’s not true at all.

SOFT DRINK GIANT Coca Cola has spent millions funding scientists who argue that people should not cut down on their calorie intake.

A New York Times story published yesterday reported that the American arm of the company spent as much as $1.5 million on the launch of the Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN). The network’s scientists endorse the idea that removing fast food and soft drinks from your diet would not help fight obesity.

Instead, the company wanted researchers to argue that working out more could counter the effects of a bad diet.

One of the founders of GEBN, Steven Blair, argues that “fitness trumps fatness” in a number of videos.

ShareWIK / YouTube

In one released just last week, he said:

“Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ — blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on, and there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause.”

Blair’s opinion runs counter to a recent study by a group of cardiologists led by Dr Aseem Malhotra of Frimley Park Hospital and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which said that people could not outrun a bad diet.

The study, published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine said that “physical activity does not promote weight loss”.

Malhotra took specific aim at Coca Cola in his paper.

Coca Cola, who spent $3.3 billion on advertising in 2013, pushes a message that ‘all calories count’; they associate their products with sport, suggesting it is ok to consume their drinks as long as you exercise.

“However science tells us this is misleading and wrong. It is where the calories come from that is crucial. Sugar calories promote fat storage and hunger. Fat calories induce fullness or ‘satiation’.

The public health messaging around diet and exercise, and their relationship to the epidemics of type 2 diabetes and obesity, has been corrupted by vested interests. Celebrity endorsements of sugary drinks, and the association of junk food and sport, must end. The ‘health halo’ legitimisation of nutritionally deficient products is misleading and unscientific.

https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/you-cant-outrun-a-bad-diet-draseemmalhotra-on-weight-loss-strategies?in=bmjpodcasts/sets/bjsm-1&utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter

For their part, Coca Cola told the New York Times that it has long worked on scientific research relating to its products.

““We partner with some of the foremost experts in the fields of nutrition and physical activity.

“It’s important to us that the researchers we work with share their own views and scientific findings, regardless of the outcome, and are transparent and open about our funding.”

The Times article also points out that this arrangement is far from unique. Pepsi, Hershey’s and McDonald’s have all funded The American Society for Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a lobby group which has been criticised by medical professionals.

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39 Comments
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    Mute Fozz
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    Jan 28th 2013, 11:58 AM

    I would say that this is the new ‘normal’ and things will likely stay like this for some time.
    Good news if so in that it isn’t getting any worse but bad news in that it isn’t getting any better.
    With any luck, when we look back in 20 years we will see the last year or two as the low point.

    Of course, this is just a guess.

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    Mute Al S Macthomais
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    Jan 28th 2013, 1:42 PM

    Funny the pr spin from government and the business lobby over Xmas was shops had an increase in sales and footfall. Somebody is lying here or they can’t calculate the information properly hence explains how we got into this mess.

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    Mute Sean Browne
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    Jan 28th 2013, 12:05 PM

    Online shopping is the reason

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    Mute Joe McDermott
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    Jan 28th 2013, 1:38 PM

    Doubt it, they’re up when you take out car sales. When did you last see someone getting a car in the post.

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    Mute Sean Browne
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    Jan 28th 2013, 5:17 PM

    So the concept of getting a new car delivered is alien to you muppets I never mentioned post did I

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    Mute Brian Osborne
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    Jan 28th 2013, 1:59 PM

    Retailers and boom in the one sentence. I don’t think so.

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    Mute Michael O'Reilly
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    Jan 28th 2013, 2:53 PM

    Fairly obvious ! No one buying houses = no furniture sales ? Even changing the unlucky 13 to 131 can’t make up for general lack of money and unemployment ….etc

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    Mute Jim Flavin
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    Jan 28th 2013, 2:09 PM

    It would b interesting to see how these figures compaer with 07,08 ,09- allowing for inlaltion – and when calculating inflation one assumes food and energy are included .

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