The studies have been out for years, but a recent NYTimes article reminded me that drinking Diet Soda causes one’s risk of obesity to increase. The article indicates the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, (which is basically just a group of risk factors for obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc) was 34% higher among those who drank one can of diet soda a day compared with those who drank none. That’s higher than the risk increased by eating fried foods. Those in the study who ate a lot of fried foods increased their risk by 25%.
A different study found that for each can of diet soda consumed each day, a person’s risk of obesity went up 41%. For regular soda drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
- 26% for up to 1/2 can each day
- 30.4% for 1/2 to 1 can each day
- 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day
- 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day.
For diet soda drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
- 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day
- 37.5% for 1/2 to 1 can each day
- 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day
- 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day.
However, correlation does not imply causation. No study concludes that diet soda causes metabolic syndrome. Yet.
Diet or not, I still think drinking soda (of any kind) is hazardous to your health. Imagine the look on my face when my friend ordered Coke for the whole table to drink last week.
4 years ago • 22 notes
