In its report, the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that one quarter of teenage boys who drink soda consume more than two 12-ounce cans per day, and that five percent drink five or more cans daily. The report, based on survey data from the USDA, also indicated that on average, girls drink about one-third less, but with potentially greater consequences. Doctors say soda has been pushing milk out of teenage diets and making girls more likely candidates for osteoporosis when they're older. While the loss of calcium from consuming less milk is known to pose problems, the consequences from adding soda are not well documented or understood. But to the extent that those drinks replace water, they may be adding calories to diet and they are certainly replacing milk.
Some recent research does point to soda consumption as a possible factor in teenage obesity.
Richard Troiano, a senior research scientist for the National Cancer Institute, found a possible link in an analysis of federal nutrition statistics for children from 1988 through 1994. Jacobson said that HHS has turned down the request for a major study, citing other on-going research into sugar, but that the USDA has not made a formal response. The message to American consumers is simple. Enjoy a well-balanced diet of which soft drinks can be a refreshing part. The idea originated on college campuses earlier in the decade and began spreading tentatively to secondary schools several years ago.