Soda Making Americans Drink Themselves Fat

(From CNN.com -- By Caleb Hellerman)

If you're searching for a villain in America's obesity epidemic, most nutritionists tell you to put one picture on the wanted poster -- a cold, bubbly glass of soda pop.

"Liquid candy" to detractors, sweetened soft drinks are so ubiquitous that they contribute about 10 percent of the calories in the American diet, according to government data.

In fact, said DR. DAVID LUDWIG, a Harvard endocrinologist whose 2001 paper in the LANCET is widely cited by obesity researchers, sweetened drinks are the only specific food that clinical research has directly linked to weight gain.

"Highly concentrated starches and sugars promote overeating, and the granddaddy of them all is sugar-sweetened beverages," said Ludwig, who runs THE OPTIMAL WEIGHT FOR LIFE PROGRAM at CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL in Boston.

While fighting obesity is complicated, Ludwig said, the first step is clear -- "Giving up sugary soda for diet drinks, or water, will cause you to lose weight."

Soda Making Americans Drink Themselves Fat

Gordon Fenwick, thanks for the post.