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Christian Living

WeightLossCoaching 02/05/09

Soft Drinks and the Obesity Pandemic

 American Beverage Ass. myth by lying to NY Senate about soft drinks role in Obesity Pandemic 

 

ABA Debunks ‘Myth’ of Link Between Soft Drinks and Obesity in New York

 

ABA SmartBrief | 02/04/2009 – (Ok, first off, read WHO's brief this is. Isn't it much like the wolf putting out a briefing telling the sheep that wolves are not the reason that they are getting killed by wolves? Doesn't make any sense and both are outright lies.) 

 

Maureen Storey, Ph.D., ABA's senior vice president for science and policy (who should be jailed for LYING to a Senate committee but will be judged for her lies and contribution to the obesity pandemic by powers far greater than them or me someday), submitted written testimony to a joint meeting of the New York State Senate Finance Committee and The Assembly Ways and Means Committee in Albany, N.Y., debunking the alleged link between soft drinks and obesity. The committees are meeting to discuss the state's fiscal 2009 budget, including Gov. David Paterson's proposal to impose an 18-percent sales tax on dozens of beverages such as regular soft drinks, juice drinks, and teas.

 

Alleged Link? Excuse me? I guess the ABA also believes that the connection between drinking alcohol and getting into car accidents while driving is a myth? Or perhaps that the connections between pre-martial sex and pregnancy is a myth? Yes, abstinence couldn't possibly be the logical way for preventing negative outcome from harmful actions, could it?!

Oh, you probably don't know what the ABA is: That's the American Beverage Association, a PR/Lobby arm of the soft drink makers fully funded by Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc! Clearly they are BIASED and have a self-serving agenda; and therefore any "testimony" from them should be disregarded. Please, if it can happen in NY, it can happen ANYWHERE! it's up to you, NY NY. Don't let the ABA get away with blatantly lying about the "alleged link". 

So, the ABA puts this nice little briefing out on the AP wires and the story headline gets picked up everywhere and the point appears to be that it's a MYTH that soft drinks have anything to do with obesity. Great PR for the ABA and its clients’ (wonder who those are: http://www.ameribev.org/members/active-members/) agenda, but a totally misleading message to consumers and legislators. Here's their press release/fairy tale in full: http://www.ameribev.org/news--media/news-releases--statements/more/149/ but allow me to summarize:

"Despite what Gov. Paterson and Commissioner Daines claim, the science is clear: the association between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and obesity, if it exists at all, is so weak that total abstinence from soda drinking will have no impact on public health,"  Dr. Storey said in her testimony. 

Really? Gosh, Dr. Storey-teller might want to speak to a few thousand of my readers who have lost significant amounts of weight simply by changing their soft drinks for water. One story in particular comes to my mind, and is what I would give as my testimony to the NY Senate:

A few years ago, I conducted chats on AOL for their millions of members. The hostess who was assigned to me was none too happy about having to sit in on yet another "diet" conversation, as she was 75 pounds overweight and a self-proclaimed diet failure. Nonetheless, it was her job to monitor the activity and maintain AOL's standards, so week after week she faithfully read my sermons about healthful living and the effects some of our habits and choices have on our bodies. One day she e-mailed me and said, "Do you really think if I quit drinking soft drinks that I would lose weight just doing that?" and I said, "Well, tell me how much you have to lose and how many you drink a day." She said, "75 pounds and three a day."

I assured her that if she stopped drinking the three soft drinks a day, given that ONE 12 oz. soft drink a day can pack 15 pounds a year on the human body, she would lose at least 30 pounds over the course of the year just giving up that ONE habit and replacing the three soft drinks a day with water.

She said that my math was wrong and that I was wrong about how much she would lose. I argued my point and told her more facts. Again, she insisted that I was wrong, because I misunderstood the facts: When she said she drinks "three" a day, she was in fact consuming three LITERS of Dr. Pepper a day, not three CANS!

30 pounds? I was WAY off. She went on to lose more than 75 pounds that year, and the only habit she changed was completely abstaining from soft drinks and drinking water instead.

I had the opportunity to meet her two years later when she was in St. Louis for an AOL team get-together. She gave me the biggest hug and thanked me, but as she stepped back and I soaked in this wonderful woman's appearance, I couldn't help but notice the few teeth that she had in her mouth were rotted, yellow, and well there is no polite way to say it disgusting to look at.

I beg to differ with Dr. Storey. Complete abstinence from soft drinks would have a HUGE impact on public health not just obesity, but dental health as well.

I can tell you horror story after horror story about the health problems that I have witnessed first hand regarding the connection between soft drinks and ill health. It's no myth, no urban legend, and no fairy tale that soft drinks are the biggest contributor to the obesity pandemic in the World.

The governor of New York is a very brave man to dare to challenge the powerful soft drink industry. It's likely that he will lose the fight, but at least he engaged in battle for the good of his citizens. Just watch who runs against him for office. I am willing to bet that the ABA will be making some sizeable campaign donations.

Don't believe me? Here's a few compelling articles for your reading pleasure:

http://www.cspinet.org/liquidcandy/ Liquid Candy

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200507131.html CSPI urges FDA to order warnings on Soft Drink labels

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/obesity_soft_drinks.html Study Links Soft Drinks with Obesity.

The search for the culprit in rising obesity levels is increasingly narrowing on one source soft drinks. A new study amplifies those claims, finding that the increased consumption of sugary beverages corresponds with America's expanding waistline.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the American Heart Association conducted this study, reviewing "the most credible scientific nutrition studies over past 40 years"....

I guess Dr. Storey knows something that Harvard, the American Heart Association, and various federal agencies don't. Or is she on the payroll of the problem?

And here's a final thought:

Carbonated soft drinks are the single largest source of calories in the American diet, according to a 2005 report called "Liquid Candy," produced by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Companies annually manufacture enough soda pop to provide more than 52 gallons to every man, woman, and child in the United States.

Well, there are four members in my family and we don't drink ANY soft drinks, so who's drinking our 208 gallons a year? 

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