Basing their opinions on analysis of the USDA's Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals 1995-1996, 98, scientists at Virginia Tech's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy believe, “(O)ur study showed no statistically significant association between age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) and regular carbonated soft drink consumption, but there is a positive association between BMI and diet carbonated soft drinks. In other words, there was no relationship between obesity and regular soft drink consumption, but overweight children drank more diet soft drinks. This analysis suggests that carbonated soft drinks are not solely responsible for the increased numbers of overweight children and adolescents.”
Furthermore, the peer-reviewed study, which appeared in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, advises that policies intended to curtail consumption of carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks ultimately will not result in children and adolescents rejecting soft drinks.