The study which was published for scientific review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition said that an extra can of soda can contribute to 15 pounds in a single year, and the "weight of evidence" strongly indicates that the increased of soft drinks consumption is the main reason more people have gained weight.
The study was conducted on 30 subjects. In the same study, the researchers concluded that heavy adults and children are more likely to drink sugary drinks.
They found that an increased intake of sweetened drinks will result to faster weight gain and a higher risk of obesity. However, a reduction of soft drinks intake in school-age children have reduced the incidence of excess weight and obesity.
They researchers said, "While all do not show harm, the study collectively suggest that soda and sugary drinks should be discouraged."
Frank Hu, a researcher at Harvard and senior author of the study say, "Soft drinks clearly have no vitamins, no minerals, no phytochemicals (chemicals or nutrients from a plant source), so they're basically empty calories. By reducing them, you are not losing anything but the calories."
At least 65 percent of all carbohydrate calories in the U.S. diet come from added sweeteners and beverages account for half of this amount.
High-fructose corn syrup is the main sweetener used in beverages. It contains slightly more fructose than ordinary table sugar. Some studies indicates that pure fructose cannot induce the production of insulin, which is vital to process calories or leptin, a substance that helps regulate appetite.
A 12-ounce can of soft drinks has the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of table sugar, the study says.
