To the Editor: The scientific nonsense being peddled by the Coca-Cola-funded Global Energy Balance Network and described in the Times detailed exposé is outrageous ( Coca-Cola Funds Effort to Alter Obesity Battle, August 10). GEBN s vice president says in an introductory video: Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is that they re eating too much, eating too much, eating too much, blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on. And there s really virtually no compelling evidence that that in fact is the cause. The Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee provides compelling evidence for the causal link between sugar drinks and disease, as well as the need for exercise. Unfortunately, Coca-Cola and its academic helpers won t accept the well-documented evidence that sugar drinks are a major contributor to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Signed (titles and institutions are for identification purposes only), Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D. President Center for Science in the Public Interest Lawrence J. Appel, M.D., M.P.H. C. David Molina, M.D., M.P.H. Professor of Medicine Epidemiology and International Health Director, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Alberto Ascherio, M.D., Dr.P.H. Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Suzanne M. Babich, Dr.P.H., M.S. Associate Dean of Global Health Professor of Health Policy and Management Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health Indiana University George L. Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D. S. Daniel Abraham Professor of Surgery Associate Director of Nutrition, Division of Nutrition Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D. Dean, Sanford School of Public Policy Robert L. Flowers Professor of Public Policy Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University
Carlos A. Camargo, M.D., Dr.P.H. Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology Massachusetts General Hospital Marilyn E. Carroll, Ph.D. Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Department of Psychiatry University of Minnesota Mark Creager, M.D., FAHA President American Heart Association Bob England, M.D., M.P.H. Director Maricopa County (Arizona) Department of Public Health Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D., FACS Director, Cardiovascular Prevention and Reversal Program Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute Alejandro Gugliucci, M.D., Ph.D. Professor and Associate Dean for Research, COM Director of Sponsored Programs Touro University-California Joan Gussow, M.Ed., Ed.D., B.A. Adjunct Professor Teachers College Columbia University David L. Katz, M.D., M.P.H., FACPM, FACP President, American College of Lifestyle Medicine Founding Director, Yale University Prevention Research Center Robert Lustig, M.D. Professor University of California San Francisco School of Medicine Vasanti Malik, Sc.D. Research Scientist Department of Nutrition
JoAnn E. Manson, M.D., Dr.P.H. Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Professor of Medicine, Professor, Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D., FTOS President and CEO, Shape Up America! Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health New York University John D. Potter, M.D., Ph.D. Member and Senior Advisor, Division of Public Health Sciences Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology University of Washington Goutham Rao, M.D. Vice Chair for Academic Affairs NorthShore and University of Chicago Departments of Family Medicine Bill Reger-Nash, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, West Virginia University School of Public Health Eric Rimm, Sc.D. Professor of Medicine Channing Division of Network Medicine Brigham and Woman's Hospital Jeffrey Ritterman, M.D. Assistant Clinical Coordinator Joint M.S.P.A.S./M.P.H. Touro University William C. Roberts, M.D. Executive Director, Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute Dean, A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education Editor-in-Chief, The American Journal of Cardiology and Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings Frank Sacks, M.D., Sc.B. Professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Department of Nutrition Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D. Director Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity University of Connecticut Meir Stampfer, M.D., Dr.P.H. Professor of Medicine, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Assoc Director, Channing Division of Network Medicine Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Lyn Steffen, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D. Associate Professor of Epidemiology University of Minnesota School of Public Health Division of Epidemiology and Community Health Mary Story, Ph.D., R.D. Professor of Global Health and Community and Family Medicine Duke University Y. Claire Wang, M.D., Sc.D. Associate Professor, Health Policy & Management, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health Jean Welsh, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N. Assistant Professor School of Medicine Emory University Walter Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H. Frederick John Stare Professor and Department Chair Department of Nutrition Professor, Department of Medicine Jake Williams, M.S. Executive Director Healthier Colorado Grace Wyshak, Ph.D. Professor of Psychiatry,
Professor of Biostatistics and Global Health and Population. Biostatistics and Global Health and Population Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., R.D. Adjunct professor of Nutrition, New York University Jeff Zayach, M.S. Executive Director Boulder County Colorado Public Health