Health

Here's Coca-Cola's Secret Plan to Get You to Drink More Soda

August 11th 2015

Coca-Cola is funding a new group called the Global Energy Balance Network that claims people should not worry about their diet and should simply exercise more, according to the New York Times.

It is believed that at least $1.5 million has gone directly to the organization and another $4 million to projects associated with the founders of the organization, Dr. Steven Blair of the University of South Carolina and Gregory A. Hand, the dean of the West Virginia University School of Public Health.

“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,” the organization’s vice president, Dr. Steven Blair, said in a recent video. “And there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause.”

The Times piece implies that Coca-Cola is funding this organization and its researchers to convince people with "science-based" information that drinking beverages such as Coca-Cola will not hurt their health. Despite what this organization is claiming, many studies have found that eating too much added sugar impacts health significantly, as it is often associated with diabetes, heart disease and other issues. The World Health Organization claims that a healthy diet should include less than 25 grams (six teaspoons) of added sugar per day. There are 39 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce can of classic Coca-Cola.

Why is Coca-Cola doing this?

They're losing business. People are becoming more informed and making smarter decisions about their diets across the nation. They are choosing to drink soda less and less. "Coca-Cola's Problems Reflect a Giant Losing Relevance," was the title of a Forbes article last year. The company's earnings were down 55 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.

More than one-third of Americans are obese, and much of this is associated with sugar consumption. "Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death," according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost one in 10 Americans had diabetes in 2012. While it is obvious that exercise is an important part of remaining healthy, health professionals agree it is not enough if you're stuffing yourself with sugar and fats all day. Regardless of what Coca-Cola-paid researchers say, people should avoid added sugar when they can.

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