Soda drinkers consume more calories

[cezene]

People who drink sugary soft drinks do not appear to compensate by reducing calories somewhere else in their diets, so they tend to pack on extra pounds, Yale University researchers report today.
Their work, published in April's American Journal of Public Health, is based on what's called a meta-analysis of 88 soda studies. The bottom line: People who drink sugary sodas consume more calories in a typical day than those who don't.

This adds to the growing body of evidence that these drinks are contributing to the nation's obesity crisis. A separate review of 30 studies, released in August by the Harvard School of Public Health, also found that soft drinks and other sugary beverages contribute to weight gain.

Although these two research papers may seem to state the obvious, experts have been debating the topic for years. On one side are nutrition researchers who say soft drinks add weight because they are high in calories and don't make people feel full and satisfied.

On the other side are other researchers and beverage industry representatives who say people can enjoy all kinds of drinks as part of a healthful diet. They say many things contribute to weight gain, including sedentary lifestyles.