they displace other foods and beverages and,
hence, nutrients; whether they contribute to
diseases such as obesity and diabetes; and
whether soft drink marketing practices represent
commercial exploitation of children.3–5
The industry trade association in the
United States (the American Beverage Association,
formerly the National Soft Drink Association)
counters nutrition concerns with several
key points: (1) the science linking soft
drink consumption to negative health outcomes
is flawed or insufficient, (2) soft drinks
are a good source of hydration, (3) soft drink
sales in schools help education by providing
needed funding, (4) physical activity is more
important than food intake, and (5) it is unfair
to “pick on” soft drinks because there are
many causes of obesity and there are no
“good” or “bad” foods. Similar positions have
been taken by other trade associations such
as the British Soft Drinks Association and the
Australian Beverages Council.
Legislative and legal discussions focusing
on soft drink sales often take place on political
and philosophical grounds with scant attention
to existing science. Our objectives were to
review the available science, examine studies
that involved the use of a variety of methods,
and address whether soft drink consumption
is associated with increased energy intake, increased
body weight, displacement of nutrients,
and increased risk of chronic diseases.