| ■ Sugary Drinks Are Key to Americans' Weight Problems: Study | 06.08.10 |
| Increased consumption of soda and other sugary drinks over the past four decades is a key reason why Americans are getting fatter, says a scientific review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Harvard School of Public Health researchers, who reviewed 30 nutrition studies over 40 years, said their findings supported public health efforts to limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, the Associated Press reported. The findings collectively suggest that soda and sugary drinks "should be discouraged," the authors wrote. They noted that an extra can of soda a day can increase a person's weight by 15 pounds in a single year. According to the report, about a third of all carbohydrates in the American diet come from added sweeteners, and beverages account for about half this amount, the AP reported. |