A review of published studies shows a clear and consistent relationship between drinking sugary (non-diet) soft drinks and poor nutrition, increased risk for obesity -- and increased risk for diabetes.

Funnily enough, there was a "remarkable difference" in results from industry-funded and non-industry-funded studies on soft drink consumption and health outcomes... "with the industry-funded studies much more likely to find the results favourable to industry."

"The bigger issue here, in this arena in particular but in science in general," said study author Dr Kelly Brownell, "is how you can get a distorted view of reality if industry-funded studies are considered in the mix -- and usually they are -- especially, when industry uses these studies in advertising, lobbying, and in talking to the press."