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.

---

Diet and Exercise Evolution: Adaptation (part II) -- Examples and Practical Advice

Understanding the theory of adaptation (see previous article, Adaptation I)... Read More

Phentermine Generics & Brand Names: How To Avoid Prescriptions Riddled With Impurities

Which diet pill are you currently taking for your weight... Read More

Green Tea And Weight Loss

There's recently been a LOT in the weight loss news... Read More

Simple Weight Loss Plan

The math is pretty simple. One pound of fat equals... Read More

Positive Imaging for Weight Loss

Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make... Read More

Speed up Metabolism

Metabolism is essentially the speed at which our body's motor... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #12

Are you just exploding with the presence of light all... Read More

Low Carb Diets: Craze or Crazy?

Low carb diets, though popular, have met with much controversy.... Read More

What Every Woman Needs!

As a woman, your body is very complex. Throughout every... Read More

Health Secrets of Cayenne

For many years, herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most... Read More

Diet Pills and Consumer Fraud

Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come... Read More

Dieting Effects ? Diet Pills

When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More

Diet Tactics You Must Know To Lose Fat?

This article is about making long-term changes in the foods... Read More

Holidaze

It's the travel time, meaning hours spent sedentary. It prepares... Read More

Weight Loss: Its Not About the Numbers, Its Your Approach!

Today obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run through us at... Read More

Brinks Unified Theory of Nutrition For Weight Loss and Muscle Gain

When people hear the term Unified Theory, some times called... Read More

Do You Really Want To Stop Smoking? Or Do You Use The Weight Gain Excuse?

I do not smoke, never have, and admit to being... Read More

Free Tips on Losing Weight

Here are a few free tips on losing weight that... Read More

Trying To Lose Weight? Heres A Low Carb Tip If Its White, Dont Eat It.

Dr. Hagglund's Healthy Eating Tips(All wheat products, bananas*, breads, rice,... Read More

Lose Weight and Burn Fat with One Simple Eating Principle

Fifteen years ago the doctor's suggested that we eat pasta... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss

Discover secrets to overcome food addictions by releasing negative thoughts... Read More

Atkins Bankruptcy: Your New Decisions To A Healthy Life!

Atkins Nutritionals filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of August... Read More

Tenuate: Should A Diet Pill Be Part Of Your Weight Loss Checklist?

Maybe your doctor suggested it. Maybe your favorite outfit doesn't... Read More

The Truth About Diet Myths

How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More

Farewell To The Atkins Low Carb Diet

Atkins Nutritionals recently announced that they are filing for Chapter... Read More

Weight Control Tool: A Food Journal

All the weight control experts recommend keeping a record of... Read More

Motivation: Keeping the Fire Going in Your Fat Loss Plan

Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to... Read More

Lose Weight and Keep it Off Permanently Without Fancy Diets

For years the experts have been telling us that diets... Read More

Breakfast -How Not To Start The Day Part II

The Order of Energy UtilizationBack to our table of stored... Read More

Japanese Weight Loss Secret

Recently, I read an article from Japanese magazine that by... Read More

It?s Not Just About Dieting

You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More

Before You Burn - Information About Weight Training Routines For Beginners

Information About Weight Training Routines For BeginnersSo you need to... Read More

What Obesity Debate?

This is a perfect example of how on-line weight loss... Read More