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Coca-Cola To Fund Research That Shifts Blame For Obesity Away From Bad Diets

Posted by Soulskill on from the it's-not-our-fault dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The NY Times reports that Coca-Cola is teaming up with influential scientists to support research into fighting obesity through other means than improving diet. They've provided funding to a new nonprofit called the Global Energy Balance Network. Its president said, "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. And there's really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause." Health experts say it's an attempt by Coca-cola to deflect criticism of the sugary drinks that are the lifeblood of its business. "This clash over the science of obesity comes in a period of rising efforts to tax sugary drinks, remove them from schools and stop companies from marketing them to children. In the last two decades, consumption of full-calorie sodas by the average American has dropped by 25 percent."

8 of 663 comments (clear)

  1. I'm torn.... by schlagzeug · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think its stupid to try and shift blame for obesity from poor diet, but as a fat man, if you can come up with a legitimate way for me to lose weight without diet and exercise, I will love you forever

    1. Re:I'm torn.... by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clearly you don't own any Coca Cola or sugar stocks. If you did, you would know that sugar is totally benign, has no ill effects, and can be consumed in massive, even concentrated quantities in soft drinks with no ill effect whatsoever.

      Sugar is just like CO2, totally harmless.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:I'm torn.... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

      if you can come up with a legitimate way for me to lose weight without diet and exercise, I will love you forever

      Eating doesn't make you fat. Marriage makes you fat.

      Just compare the waistlines of your single and married friends, and you will see what I mean.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    3. Re:I'm torn.... by VorpalRodent · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...I think your options are pretty much limited to violating the laws of thermodynamics.

      I was not aware of this option. Please sign me up for your newsletter.

      --
      Take it to the limit, everybody to the limit, come on, everybody fhqwhgads.
    4. Re:I'm torn.... by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Funny

      I don't know, is Conservative kool-aid still built with a large dose of "the universe owes my preferred economic system a free pass from the laws of physics"?

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  2. Re:No compelling evidence? by cyberchondriac · · Score: 4, Funny

    Remember, poop transplants can make people fatter or skinnier. Once you realize that, it's all a bunch of shit.

    Gouging my eyes out now, but still can't get that image out of my head.

    --

    Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
  3. Re:Already propagating by dcollins117 · · Score: 5, Funny

    No no no, thyroids are mythical.

    I assure you thyroid glands are real. When you go to the doctor and he palpates the base of your neck he is checking your thyroid.

    If you don't believe in prostate glands either, you're in for a big surprise when your doctor decides to check it.

  4. Re:Already propagating by ai4px · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damn.... I thought the B in Bmr was how much Bourbon I put in my coke zero! No wonder I'm not losing weight.