Coca-Cola Funds Research to Unlink Obesity to Sugary Drinks

Is Coca-Cola getting alarmed after scientific claims have linked obesity and diabetes to consumption of sugary drinks? The corporate giant has announced its collaboration with top scientists from a nonprofit organization to help them find the right solution to obesity by promoting the message that Americans are fixated with what they eat and drink that they tend to forget about working out.

The New York Times reports that Coca-Cola Corporation has provided financial and logistical assistance to Global Energy Balance Network, a newly formed, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the identification and implementation of innovative solutions to rid the world of diseases related to poor nutrition, lack of exercise and obesity.

The team plans to spread the word of cautions on social media and scientific journals, and according to Steven Blair, vice-president of Global Energy, it is to stop medical experts from blaming fast food, sugary drinks and the like from being the main cause of obesity when there is no compelling evidence to back this claim.

Michele Simon, a public health lawyer, said that as Coca-Cola's sales are dramatically lessening and with public awareness trying to curb consumption, this could be their response to help bring back sales and avoid going bankrupt.

Health experts agreed and said the message Coca-Cola and Global Energy are trying to convey can be misleading and could just be a tactic of the soda giant to alleviate attention from criticisms that sugary drinks have been essential in the spread of diabetes and obesity, USA Today writes.

Marion Nestle, a professor of food nutrition and public health from the New York University, said Coca-Cola's agenda has been very clear that they are trying to fund researchers to confuse experts and people into thinking dietary intake is not as important.

Fortune writes this hasn't been the first time Coca-Cola tried to make their products look healthier. Last February, several fitness and nutrition experts have been paid to write online articles for American Health Month endorsing Coke as a healthy treat. Similarly, the American Beverage Association has also published a study suggesting that diet soda consumption can help in weight management.

According to University of South Carolina and West Virginia University School of Public Health, two universities who have been employed by Global Energy, Coca-Cola has donated about $1.5 million in 2014 to help start the organization and this year, the corporate giant has given nearly $4 million to fund projects and research.