eDiets NutriSystem, Inc.


Diet Soda: New Study Shows Relationship Between Diet Soda and Weight Gain


A very interesting story was reported recently by WebMD.com. A report was made at the annual scientific session of the American Diabetic Association (www.diabetic.org) by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, of the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine in San Antonio, Texas.

Fowler collected data on over 1,500 people aged 25 to 64 over nearly an eight-year period. At the beginning of the study, 622 people were of normal weight. Over the course of the study, roughly one-third of them became overweight or obese. A correlation was found between increased soda consumption and the risk of becoming overweight or obese.

This in itself is not surprising to most people. What is surprising, however, is that there is a greater risk among diet soda drinkers than among regular soda drinkers. Here are the numbers:

The risk of becoming overweight or obese for regular soft-drink consumers:

26% for up to 1/2 can each day
30.4% for 1/2 to one can each day
32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day
47.2% for more than 2 cans each day.

The risk of becoming overweight or obese for diet soft-drink drinkers:

36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day
37.5% for 1/2 to one can each day
54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day
57.1% for more than 2 cans each day.

For diet soda consumers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese increased by 41% for each can of diet soda consumed in a day. With that said, there is a saying among statisticians that goes like this: "Correlation does not mean causation."

What this means is that simply finding a statistically significant correlation between A and B does not mean that A causes B. It could very well be that similar lifestyle choices or decision-making patterns among diet soda consumers are creating similar weight-gain circumstances.

If you are old enough to recall the late '80's or early '90's, you may remember when a correlation was discovered between oat bran consumption and lower cholesterol. Once the relationship hit the press, it was several years before it could be reported that consuming oat bran could actually help to lower cholesterol in the blood.

The original assumption was that those consumers who were "likely" to consume foods containing oat bran would also be more likely to live a lifestyle that would result in lower blood cholesterol.

A similar phenomenon could be taking place with the diet soda metric as well -- but then, maybe not. Recalling a scene from Alice In Wonderland where Alice is offered tea and then offended because she is given none, Fowler posits that the body may be baited into thinking that a high calorie beverage is being consumed (because of the sweetness of the diet soda) only to find none. In support of this idea, Fowler mentions a recent study in which rats fed artificial sweetener craved calories to a greater degree than their sugar-fed bretheren.

So what is a diet soda drinker to do? Well, the simplest thing to do is to stop drinking diet soda. In fact, stop drinking soda altogether. The next thing to do is to contemplate your lifestyle. Consider your caloric intake and whether you tend to justify consuming things you should leave alone. Are you active enough to burn the calories you consume? Do you tend to purchase and consume "low-calorie" or "diet" foods and beverages?

Research that provides results that cause us to ponder our own lifestyles is invaluable. Creatures of habit, as we are, need to have our world rocked occasionally.

Until more information is available, grab yourself a nice cold glass of water and think about whether you will be one of the 41% in the next seven or eight years.

References: WebMD.com (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/107/108476.htm by Daniel DeNoon, WebMD Medical News)

Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (http://www.ccwebgroup.com/tips) and the Chief Technology Officer for http://www.WellnessPartners.com, an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), and Green Tea Extract.



Weight Loss in the News:

Canada.com

Weight loss a phone call away, study finds
Reuters - 4 hours ago
"We actually found significant weight loss with phone counseling which hasn't been seen in other research," said Marieke Van Wier, a researcher at VU ...
Weight Loss Interventions by Phone or E-Mail Seen Effective MedPage Today
all 8 news articles


eFluxMedia

Orexigen drug shows 9.3 pct weight loss, shrs fall
Reuters - Jan 8, 2009
The US Food and Drug Administration has said obesity drugs need to demonstrate weight loss at least 5 percentage points above that seen with a dummy pill. ...
Orexigen Falls After Weight-Loss Pill Fails to Meet FDA Goal Bloomberg
Orexigen Says Weight Loss Drug Contrave Meets Goals in Trial eFluxMedia
Orexigen claims weight-loss pill is effective The Money Times
San Diego Union Tribune - TheStreet.com
all 59 news articles


eFluxMedia

US expanding list of illegal weight-loss drugs
Dallas Morning News, TX - Jan 8, 2009
More than 70 weight loss pills sold in the US as dietary supplements contain drugs that aren't disclosed on the labels and can harm consumers, ...
FDA Expands Warning on Weight Loss Pills Natural Products Marketplace
Weight loss pill warning WSLS.com
FDA sends out more diet pill alerts; criminal charges possible USA Today
Newsinferno.com - WSET
all 22 news articles


Reality TV Magazine

National weight loss challenge to help local food bank
Muncie Star Press, IN - 16 hours ago
Viewers that night learned about the show's collaboration with General Mills and national food banks to sponsor a weight loss and fundraising effort to ...
Weight loss program benefits Winchester News Gazette
Be Valley’s biggest loser Youngstown Vindicator
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI FOOD BANK, FEEDING AMERICA, GENERAL MILLS AND ... Southeast Missourian
Trading Markets (press release) - Muncie Star Press
all 16 news articles


Steve Jobs' weight loss may be linked to his earlier cancer ...
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Jan 5, 2009
But they said pancreatic surgery patients sometimes do suffer such weight loss and have been been successfully treated with oral supplements. ...
Video: Steve Jobs Weight Loss Due to Hormone Imbalance AssociatedPress
Apple's Steve Jobs blames 'hormone imbalance' for weight loss Computerworld
Jobs: Hormone imbalance causing weight loss CNNMoney.com
Bloomberg - Taipei Times
all 2,781 news articles


Better Business Bureau warns about fraudulent weight-loss endorsements
Anderson Independent Mail, SC - 21 hours ago
The Better Business Bureau is warning customers of online ads relying on celebrity endorsements to sell acai berry-related weight loss products. ...
Call 4 Action: Marketing Of 'Weight Loss' Berry Drawing Fire MSNBC
BBB warning consumers of weight-loss scams Columbus Dispatch
BBB warns of acai berry weight-loss scam WalletPop
Fort Worth Star Telegram - CBS 11
all 86 news articles


New weight-loss program at Dogma Athletica in Edwards
Vail Daily News, CO - 7 hours ago
The comprehensive program focuses on nutrition, lifestyle and health and addresses weight loss, blood sugar balance and its relationship to mood and hormone ...


New Weight Loss Scam Operating In The Area
Indiana's NewsCenter, IN - 2 hours ago
The weight loss-product maker claims it has the endorsement of OPRAH Winfrey, and charges customers each month despite the offer of a "free trial".


Weight Loss Secrets
News Channel 7, SC - 8 hours ago
Now, local experts offer some weight loss secrets that will help you melt the pounds away. When you are trying to lose weight, experts like Cindy Thomas say ...


Weight-Loss Organization Reaches Out to Members of LA Weight Loss
Cherry Creek News, CO - Jan 8, 2009
MILWAUKEE, WI – With the balance of LA Weight Loss centers closing across the country, TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nation’s oldest ...
TOPS members recognized for weight loss at fall rally Delta County Independent
TOPS will have an open house Port Clinton News Herald
all 3 news articles

Weight-Loss - Google News



longevity and aging | magnetic bracelets | women's health magazine | promotional bottled water | juiceplus
Get Free Links

Home | Site Map
© 2006