Linda Gardner's Blog: Does Big Soda Manipulate Research on Sugary Drinks’ Health Effects?

Does drinking soda make you fat? Some studies say yes, some find no connection at all. So what should you believe?

A new investigation finds an interesting pattern: Every single study that finds no connection between sugary beverages and obesity is funded by Big Soda:

Annals of Internal Medicine: Do Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Cause Obesity and Diabetes? Industry and the Manufacture of Scientific Controversy
The New York Times: Studies Linked to Soda Industry Mask Health Risks
Los Angeles Times: Does the Soda Industry Manipulate Research on Sugary Drinks’ Health Effects?
New York Daily News: The Sweetened Beverage Industry May Sugarcoat Science to Downplay Obesity, Diabetes Link: Report

Not so shocking, perhaps, as it was recently revealed that the industry has a long history of downplaying health risks with sugar.

This is just another reason to be very skeptical of statements influenced by the industry, such as the one that you can drink as much soda as you want as long as it’s “in moderation” and you don’t take in too many calories. They’ll apparently tell any lie to keep people buying.