Obesity and ... 2

Estimates are that over two-thirds of Americans are above their optimum weight and more than a third are obese. Many healthcare personnel believe this is less an accident and more the result of careful marketing. Data published by the Euromonitor from the Global Market Information Database (2002) estimated that Americans consume close to 50 billion liters of soda per year, which equates to about 216 liters or 57 gallons per person. (And that data is a decade old. Imagine what it might be now). It appears that sodas have beaten out white bread as the number one source of calories, thus contributing to this weight gain. Recently I was told about a video interview with Diane Sawyer in which it was said that soda drinks could potentially add a pound per week to a person’s waist line. That may be one reason water has been touted as the beverage of kings, the gold standard of beverages—it contains no calories but neither does it contain artificial sweeteners that can confuse the brain. More on that in another blog.