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Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets
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The beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this message in medical journals, at conferences and through social media. To help the scientists get the word out, Coke has provided financial and logistical support to a new nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance Network, which promotes the argument that weight-conscious Americans are overly fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to exercise.
“Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ — blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on,” the group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, an exercise scientist, says in a recent video announcing the new organization. “And there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause.”
Health experts say this message is misleading and part of an effort by Coke to deflect criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. They contend that the company is using the new group to convince the public that physical activity can offset a bad diet despite evidence that exercise has only minimal impact on weight compared with what people consume.
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In response to a request made under the state Freedom of Information Act, the University of South Carolina disclosed that Dr. Blair had received more than $3.5 million in funding from Coke for research projects since 2008.
The university also disclosed that Coca-Cola had provided significant funding to Dr. Hand, who left the University of South Carolina last year for West Virginia. The company gave him $806,500 for an “energy flux” study in 2011 and $507,000 last year to establish the Global Energy Balance Network.
<snip>
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets
The beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this message in medical journals, at conferences and through social media. To help the scientists get the word out, Coke has provided financial and logistical support to a new nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance Network, which promotes the argument that weight-conscious Americans are overly fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to exercise.
“Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ — blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on,” the group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, an exercise scientist, says in a recent video announcing the new organization. “And there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause.”
Health experts say this message is misleading and part of an effort by Coke to deflect criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. They contend that the company is using the new group to convince the public that physical activity can offset a bad diet despite evidence that exercise has only minimal impact on weight compared with what people consume.
<snip>
In response to a request made under the state Freedom of Information Act, the University of South Carolina disclosed that Dr. Blair had received more than $3.5 million in funding from Coke for research projects since 2008.
The university also disclosed that Coca-Cola had provided significant funding to Dr. Hand, who left the University of South Carolina last year for West Virginia. The company gave him $806,500 for an “energy flux” study in 2011 and $507,000 last year to establish the Global Energy Balance Network.
<snip>
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets
Coca-Cola is going after a scathing report on its research funding
In a column published in USA Today, Coca-Cola chief technical officer Ed Hays claims the Times story "created confusion" around Coke's funding of a new research group, called the Global Energy Balance Network.
"A recent New York Times article created confusion about our support of research and non-profit organizations, stating we want people to think that only exercise matters and not diet — but nothing could be further from the truth," Hays writes. "We have always operated under the fact that a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise are key ingredients for a healthy lifestyle."
According to the story, Coca-Cola donated $1.5 million last year to help start the Global Energy Balance Network and provided another $4 million in funding to two of the organization’s founding members.
Coca-Cola is also listed as the administrator of the group's website, which is registered to Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters, the paper's Anahad O'Connor reported.
The Global Energy Balance Network says on its website that "there’s really virtually no compelling evidence" that sugary drinks, fast food, and eating too much is to blame for the world's obesity epidemic.
<snip>
http://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-responds-to-new-york-times-story-on-research-funding-2015-8
In a column published in USA Today, Coca-Cola chief technical officer Ed Hays claims the Times story "created confusion" around Coke's funding of a new research group, called the Global Energy Balance Network.
"A recent New York Times article created confusion about our support of research and non-profit organizations, stating we want people to think that only exercise matters and not diet — but nothing could be further from the truth," Hays writes. "We have always operated under the fact that a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise are key ingredients for a healthy lifestyle."
According to the story, Coca-Cola donated $1.5 million last year to help start the Global Energy Balance Network and provided another $4 million in funding to two of the organization’s founding members.
Coca-Cola is also listed as the administrator of the group's website, which is registered to Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters, the paper's Anahad O'Connor reported.
The Global Energy Balance Network says on its website that "there’s really virtually no compelling evidence" that sugary drinks, fast food, and eating too much is to blame for the world's obesity epidemic.
<snip>
http://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-responds-to-new-york-times-story-on-research-funding-2015-8
Amid a national obesity epidemic, Coca-Cola has been quietly supporting a new nonprofit organization.
But there's another question here—beyond the issue of whether exercise or diet matters more for a person's health. It's whether it's even possible to pursue honest research when it's being funded by a corporate giant with very clear business objectives.
"These sorts of relationships are fraught with peril in terms of how they influence research," Freedhoff said. "I would say that it's impossible to accept that much funding from a company like Coca-Cola and for there not to be a conflict of interest."
Freedhoff points to GEBN's lack of transparency about its relationship with the global beverage giant as further evidence. If it truly wasn't an issue, he says, than the organization would flaunt rather than obscure it.
GEBN is buoyed, at least in part, by both financial and strategic help from Coca-Cola. The global beverage giant invested $1.5 million last year while the organization was just getting started. The group's website, gebn.org, is also registered in Coca-Cola's name. If you click on 'Mission,' and scroll to the very bottom of the company's mission statement, there's a disclosure that GEBN received "an unrestricted gift from The Coca-Cola Company.
The affiliation wasn't always so clear. When Freedhoff first encountered the organization earlier this year, he suspected the food industry might be involved, but he couldn't find any evidence of it.
"As soon as I read the name I assumed it was a food industry funded organization. The jargon is classic misleading industry speak." said Freedhoff. "But when I went to look online though, the Web site said nothing of any funding."
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/11/the-worlds-largest-seller-of-sugary-drinks-is-telling-people-how-to-lose-weight
But there's another question here—beyond the issue of whether exercise or diet matters more for a person's health. It's whether it's even possible to pursue honest research when it's being funded by a corporate giant with very clear business objectives.
"These sorts of relationships are fraught with peril in terms of how they influence research," Freedhoff said. "I would say that it's impossible to accept that much funding from a company like Coca-Cola and for there not to be a conflict of interest."
Freedhoff points to GEBN's lack of transparency about its relationship with the global beverage giant as further evidence. If it truly wasn't an issue, he says, than the organization would flaunt rather than obscure it.
GEBN is buoyed, at least in part, by both financial and strategic help from Coca-Cola. The global beverage giant invested $1.5 million last year while the organization was just getting started. The group's website, gebn.org, is also registered in Coca-Cola's name. If you click on 'Mission,' and scroll to the very bottom of the company's mission statement, there's a disclosure that GEBN received "an unrestricted gift from The Coca-Cola Company.
The affiliation wasn't always so clear. When Freedhoff first encountered the organization earlier this year, he suspected the food industry might be involved, but he couldn't find any evidence of it.
"As soon as I read the name I assumed it was a food industry funded organization. The jargon is classic misleading industry speak." said Freedhoff. "But when I went to look online though, the Web site said nothing of any funding."
<snip>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/11/the-worlds-largest-seller-of-sugary-drinks-is-telling-people-how-to-lose-weight
Coca-Cola: We’ll Do Better
By Muhtar Kent
Mr. Kent is the chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Co.
At Coca-Cola, the way we have engaged the public health and scientific communities to tackle the global obesity epidemic that is plaguing our children, our families and our communities is not working.
Our company has been accused of shifting the debate to suggest that physical activity is the only solution to the obesity crisis. There also have been reports accusing us of deceiving the public about our support of scientific research.
We have read and reflected on the recent news stories and opinions, online conversations and questions from our own family and friends. The characterization of our company does not reflect our intent or our values.
I am disappointed that some actions we have taken to fund scientific research and health and well-being programs have served only to create more confusion and mistrust. I know our company can do a better job engaging both the public-health and scientific communities—and we will.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/coca-cola-well-do-better-1440024365
By Muhtar Kent
Mr. Kent is the chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Co.
At Coca-Cola, the way we have engaged the public health and scientific communities to tackle the global obesity epidemic that is plaguing our children, our families and our communities is not working.
Our company has been accused of shifting the debate to suggest that physical activity is the only solution to the obesity crisis. There also have been reports accusing us of deceiving the public about our support of scientific research.
We have read and reflected on the recent news stories and opinions, online conversations and questions from our own family and friends. The characterization of our company does not reflect our intent or our values.
I am disappointed that some actions we have taken to fund scientific research and health and well-being programs have served only to create more confusion and mistrust. I know our company can do a better job engaging both the public-health and scientific communities—and we will.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/coca-cola-well-do-better-1440024365
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