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Released October 7th, 2012. Scott's Hawaiian SOD Booster.
Return Your Body to the Energy it had when you were in your 20's
Prime Cause of American Obesity?
It was financial deception that caused the 2008 American financial crisis. Is similar deception occurring masking evidence that sugar contributes to obesity? Being a longevity health nutrition writer, I write based on truth and facts. When I see deception occurring, especially in health matters related to nutrition, it is my duty to report it, with as much factual evidence as possible leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. You can imagine my surprise when I learned that 57 percent of dietitians serving on Cokes "health panel" were paid by Coke.
The Facts
Let's first start with the facts:
Fact #1:
"We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay."
Quoted by Dr Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development. For an adult of a normal body mass index (BMI), that works out to about 6 teaspoons of sugar per day
Fact #2:
A single can of sugar-sweetened soda contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugars.
Fact #3:
A 12-ounce can of regular Coke contains approximately 9 teaspoons of sugar.
Quote by Katherine Zeratsky of the Mayo Clinic:
"Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn't likely to hurt you."
Now are some of these "experts", including Katherine Zeratsky, affiliated with Coca Cola? Let's find out.
The Threat Sugar is Having on Coca Cola
The previous 10 years of Coca-Cola’s annual reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed that obesity on human health was the greatest threat to its profits. Since than Coke has aggressively stepped up its lobbying efforts. Some of these profits are spent convincing respected scientific researchers and health professionals to view coca cola sodas as benign. The Mayo Clinic Proceedings published a study arguing the results of dietary surveys, linking sugary drinks to type-2 diabetes constitutes a misuse of public funds. The authors report receiving speaking and consulting fees from Coca-Cola.
Dr. Edward Archer
Dr. Edward Archer joined the Nutritional Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama, Birmingham in January of 2015. He is an obesity theorist and computational physiologist, and has a broad interdisciplinary background with graduate degrees and training in physiology, psychology, nutrition, exercise science, and epidemiology. His research spans the continuum of human bioenergetics, from the physiology of nutrient energy partitioning to national nutrition surveillance and chronic non-communicable disease epidemiology. He has authored numerous scientific publications that have been profiled in the New York Times, ABC News with Diane Sawyer, L.A. Times, Huntington Post, and many other media outlets.
Dr. Archer wrote the study titled: "The Inadmissibility of What We Eat in America and NHANES Dietary Data in Nutrition and Obesity Research and the Scientific Formulation of National Dietary Guidelines". Dr. Edward Archer has received honoraria from the International Life Sciences Institute and the Coca-Cola Company.
Experts Receiving Money Supporting Coke's Message that Coke is Good For You
Coca-Cola has publicly disclosed its practice of paying health professionals and respected researchers millions of dollars. It spent over $21.8 million to fund pro-industry research. $96.8 million also went to partnerships with health organizations. $2.1 million of this money has also been paid to "health experts." Coca-Cola's website states "health experts" were paid professional fees , travel grants and related expenses.
Let's take a look at the "experts" paid by coke and their area of expertise:
6 percent (7) are fitness experts, 5 percent (6) are authors, 3 percent (3) are chefs, and 1 percent (1) are food representatives.
57 percent (65) are dietitians, 20 percent (23) are academics, 7 percent (8) are medical professionals (mostly Doctors),
If we examine where these people live they reside in California and Texas (obviously states where sales of Coca Cola are in decline)
Their Impact on Their Communities
63 percent of these "experts" are highly popular on social media. They have more than 80,000 followers on Twitter with more than 150,000 likes on Facebook. These people have been paid by Coke because they are effective communicators whose influence is far reaching. This is something Coke can't do on its own, especially if it wants to mask the increase in American Obesity.
Many of the dietitians funded by Coke have appeared regularly on local TV segments as experts. They also actively maintain food blogs and write health and nutrition articles. Some of their articles include showing busy moms how to pack a healthy lunch box and include using Coke as a healthy snack. Sylvia Klinger, a person on the Coca Cola payroll suggests “drinking a mini Coke can with mini sliders", giving an impression that you can cut down portion sizes while watching the Superbowl. (Sports are used as a distraction for the realities of life).
Professor Mark Haub
Mark Haub, a professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University, stated on CNN that he ate only Twinkies for 10 weeks (one of these sugary cakelets every three hours) and lost 27 pounds. It just so happened that upon closer examination, Mark Haub was paid by Coca-Cola
Chef Virginia Willis
One day she decided to invent a "coke cake" which happened to use coca cola. It is now shown on www.marthastewart.com. It just so happens that Virginia Willis is on the Coke payroll. This is a smart move by Coke, because when you enter the search term Virginia Willis + Coke, in the Internet, you get in the top results "Coca Cola Cake" not Virginia Willis Coca Cola payroll, making it harder to track down who is paid by coke and who isn't.
Objectives of the Soda Industry. Blaming Lack of Exercise for American Obesity
The primary objective of the soda industry is to target those who don't exercise and making it their fault for their obesity.
The Global Energy Balance Network
Three respected scientific researchers, Dr. Steven Blair of the University of South Carolina, Dr. Greg Hand of the University of West Virginia, and Dr. James Hill of the University of Colorado started the nonprofit organization titled: “Global Energy Balance Network”. The primary focus of this group is to state that obesity occurs due to overeating and the real culprit for obesity is exercise. All three of these people are on the Coke payroll and received substantial funding from Coca-Cola. Critics have also accused the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) of supporting GEBN.
The Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN) has been characterized as an astroturfing. (Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participant).
Two more respected health professionals, Louisiana cardiologist Dr. Carl "Chip" Lavie, and Baton Rouge family physician Dr. Rani Whitfield, also known as The Hip Hop Doc were paid by Coke to serve as consultants. Dr. Carl authored a book implying it is the lack of physical activity and not sugar causing American obesity. When asked about this, Dr. Carl and Dr. Rani refused to indicate how much money they were paid by Coca-Cola. Lavie has also received consulting as well as speaking fees from Coca-Cola.
The below webpage gives an excellent idea of how coke is using dietitians and experts to push coke as a "healthy choice"
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/q-a-with-three-of-coca-colas-health-professional-partners/
When looking at this marketing plan by coke, it may seem to some as a way to motivate people to get off their butts and start exercising, however there are plenty of soda drinkers who can't exercise, such as the disabled, the very young and the very old.
In summary I will leave it up to the reader to look at these facts for himself / herself and draw a sound conclusion as to whether or not large corporations are misleading the public into believing that excessive sugar consumption is causing obesity. While I am not one that likes to make laws banning sugar or other restrictive type of action, I do believe in making public what studies corporations are funding, who they are funding, how much their experts and consultants are paid and how their "expertise" and studies compare to similar scientific studies that are independently performed by outside agencies.
It is a plain fact that as time goes on, more and more of the truth about what really causes obesity will come to light, and if some of these companies are trying to cover up the truth, then they should be held accountable for their actions of betraying the public trust. That is far better justice than writing more laws and "banning sugar".
References to Obesity and Sugar
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999-2010. JAMA. 2012;307:483-90.
- Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999-2010. JAMA. 2012;307:491-7.
- Cawley J, Meyerhoefer C. The medical care costs of obesity: an instrumental variables approach. J Health Econ. 2012;31:219-30.
- Institute of Medicine. Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2012.
- US Department of Agriculture. Nutrient data for 14400, Carbonated beverage, cola, contains caffeine. National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24. 2012. Accessed June 21, 2012, http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4337
- Pan A, Hu FB. Effects of carbohydrates on satiety: differences between liquid and solid food. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2011;14:385-90.
- US Federal Trade Commission. Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents: A Review of Industry Expenditures, Activities, and Self-Regulation. Washington, DC: US Federal Trade Commission; 2008.
- Harris J, Schwartz MB, Brownell KD, et al. Sugary Drink FACTS: Evaluating Sugary Drink Nutrition and Marketing to Youth. New Haven, CT: Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity; 2011.
- Coca-Cola: Don’t blame us for obesity epidemic! The New York Daily News June 8, 2012.
- Lesser LI, Ebbeling CB, Goozner M, Wypij D, Ludwig DS. Relationship between funding source and conclusion among nutrition-related scientific articles. PLoS Med. 2007;4:e5.
- The Coca-Cola Company. History of Bottling. Accessed June 21, 2012, http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/historybottling.html
- Jacobson M. Liquid Candy: How Soft Drinks are Harming Americans’ Health. Washington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest; 2005.
- The Coca-Cola Company. 1.25 For 125! New 1.25 Liter Coca-Cola Package Rolls Out as Part of Brand’s 125th Anniversary Celebration 2011. Accessed June 25, 2012, http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/dynamic/press_center/2011/05/125-for-125.html
- Nielsen SJ, Popkin BM. Changes in beverage intake between 1977 and 2001. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27:205-10.
- Wang YC, Bleich SN, Gortmaker SL. Increasing caloric contribution from sugar-sweetened beverages and 100% fruit juices among US children and adolescents, 1988-2004. Pediatrics. 2008;121:e1604-14.
- Lasater G, Piernas C, Popkin BM. Beverage patterns and trends among school-aged children in the US, 1989-2008. Nutr J. 2011;10:103.
- Ogden CL, Kit BK, Carroll MD, Park S. Consumption of sugar drinks in the United States, 2005-2008<. NCHS Data Brief. 2011:1-8.
- National Cancer Institute. Mean Intake of Energy and Mean Contribution (kcal) of Various Foods Among US Population, by Age, NHANES 2005–06. Accessed June 21, 2012, http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/diet/foodsources/
- Mozaffarian D, Hao T, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Hu FB. Changes in diet and lifestyle and long-term weight gain in women and men. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:2392-404.
- Malik VS, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sugar-sweetened beverages and BMI in children and adolescents: reanalyses of a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:438-9; author reply 9-40.
- Ludwig DS, Peterson KE, Gortmaker SL. Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. Lancet. 2001;357:505-8.
- Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Despres JP, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:2477-83.
- de Koning L, Malik VS, Kellogg MD, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sweetened beverage consumption, incident coronary heart disease, and biomarkers of risk in men. Circulation. 2012;125:1735-41, S1.
- Fung TT, Malik V, Rexrode KM, Manson JE, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sweetened beverage consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1037-42.
- Choi HK, Willett W, Curhan G. Fructose-rich beverages and risk of gout in women. JAMA. 2010;304:2270-8.
- Choi HK, Curhan G. Soft drinks, fructose consumption, and the risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2008;336:309-12.
- Ebbeling CB, Feldman HA, Osganian SK, Chomitz VR, Ellenbogen SJ, Ludwig DS. Effects of decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on body weight in adolescents: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Pediatrics. 2006;117:673-80.
- Tate DF, Turner-McGrievy G, Lyons E, et al. Replacing caloric beverages with water or diet beverages for weight loss in adults: main results of the Choose Healthy Options Consciously Everyday (CHOICE) randomized clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:555-63.
List of all "health experts" as of late 2015 paid by coca cola.