Abstract

“Coca-cola Funds scientists Who shiFt Blame for Obesity Away from Bad Diets.” Thus began the August 9, 2015 New York Times article that alerted the public and the wider scientific community to the secret tactics the soda industry was using to protect its profits on a product known to harm health and contribute to the obesity epidemic, one of the leading public health crises of our day. Following the lead of the tobacco industry, Coca-Cola was funding leading exercise scientists to promote the message that physical activity was the main solution to the obesity epidemic—a claim few obesity experts accept. The response was condemnation and a deeper appreciation of the political obstacles to regulating...