Sugar-sweetened soft drinks deliver liquid calories that do not satisfy hunger and therefore promote weight gain in children and adults.
Original statement
المشروبات الغازية — السكرية منها والدايت — تُحمِّل الجسم سعرات سائلة لا تُشبع
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
Sugar-sweetened soft drinks deliver liquid calories that do not satisfy hunger and therefore promote weight gain in children and adults.
Origin
- Source status
- Archive editors
- Attribution
- Archive editors (study selection and narrative are the archive's, not necessarily Elawady's)
- Origin
- https://eltayebat.com/rule/soda/
- Attribution uncertainty
- The archive homepage states that the forbidden-food section is supported by research 'independently of Dr. Diaa's words'. No evidence was found that Elawady himself cited these studies.
- Claimed mechanism
Weak dietary compensation for liquid calories.
- Claimed health effect
Weight gain, obesity.
- Population concerned
Children and adults
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Scientific assessment
Mostly true – Correct at its core, but with limitations or minor inaccuracies.
Certainty of evidence: moderate – Further research may still affect the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
Liquid sugar calories do not satisfy and cause weight gain.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
Malik 2013 (A-SOD-20): cohorts show weight gain per daily serving and RCTs in adults adding SSB showed +0.85 kg (95% CI 0.50-1.20). Te Morenga 2012 (I-SUG-01): reducing sugars reduced weight by 0.80 kg in ad libitum trials. DiMeglio 2000 (A-SOD-21): in 15 people, energy from soda was not compensated whereas energy from jelly beans was.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
The summary sentence groups diet sodas with sugary ones under 'liquid calories'; diet sodas provide almost no energy. Te Morenga found no weight change when sugars were exchanged isoenergetically for other carbohydrates, so the effect works through extra energy intake rather than a unique property of sugar.
4. What remains unclear?
Long-term size of the satiety effect; the DiMeglio trial is very small.
5. Which studies support it?
A-SOD-04, A-SOD-10, A-SOD-20, A-SOD-21, A-SOD-23; I-SUG-01; I-SUG-05.
6. Which studies contradict it?
Isoenergetic exchange trials (I-SUG-01) show no weight effect when total calories are held constant.
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
The WHO guideline (2015) on free sugars and EFSA's 2022 opinion (intake of added and free sugars 'as low as possible') apply in Germany and the EU; the European EPIC cohort (A-SOD-17) found associations in 10 European countries including Germany.
8. What is known about Egypt?
Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are widely sold in Egypt. No Egypt-specific study was reviewed for this claim; the physiological mechanisms and cohort findings are not known to differ by country, but absolute risks depend on local consumption and disease rates.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Replacing sugary drinks with water is a reasonable weight-management step.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
RCTs in adults (adding SSB increases weight) and in children (reducing SSB reduces BMI gain), plus consistent cohorts; WHO rates the evidence for free sugars and body weight as basis for a strong recommendation. Mechanistic evidence on poor satiety of liquid calories rests on few small trials.
- Source quality
Archive studies are relevant and correctly summarised; the claim that diet sodas also 'load liquid calories' is incorrect (diet sodas are essentially calorie-free).
- Regional transferability
High.
- Individual exceptions
Effect sizes per serving are modest (about 0.1-0.2 kg/year per daily serving in cohorts); large differences arise with high habitual intake.
- Regional scope of the claim
- general (biological/medical)
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
Drinking sugary soft drinks adds calories that people usually do not balance by eating less. Trials show that adding sugary drinks increases body weight and removing them helps prevent weight gain. The effect comes from the extra calories. Diet sodas do not contain these calories, so this argument does not apply to them.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (7)
-
Sugary drinks and child obesity
Ludwig DS et al.. Lancet 2001 · PMID 11229668 · DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04041-1Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedEach extra daily sugary drink was linked with higher BMI and 60% higher odds of obesity.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Is SSB consumption related to obesity in children?
- How was the study done?
Prospective observational study of schoolchildren over 19 months.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
548; Schoolchildren aged ~11.7 y
- What was actually found?
Per additional serving: BMI +0.24 kg/m2 (0.10-0.39); obesity OR 1.60 (1.14-2.24); baseline intake and BMI change +0.18 kg/m2 per daily serving (0.09-0.27).
- How large was the observed effect?
OR 1.60 per serving
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Sugary drinks may contribute to child weight gain.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small sample; Short follow-up; Observational design; residual confounding possible; Self-reported dietary intake
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports C-SOD-02.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation.
-
Sugary drinks, weight and diabetes in 91,000 women
Schulze MB et al.. JAMA 2004 · PMID 15328324 · DOI 10.1001/jama.292.8.927Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedWomen drinking one or more sugary drinks daily had 83% higher diabetes risk; fruit punch similar.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Are SSB associated with weight change and T2D in women?
- How was the study done?
Prospective cohort (NHS II) 1991-1999.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
91,249 (diabetes); 51,603 (weight); 741 T2D cases; Women aged young/middle-aged
- What was actually found?
Increasing SSB to >=1/day: 4.69 and 4.20 kg weight gain over 4 years vs 1.34 and 0.15 kg in decreasers; >=1 SSB/day T2D RR 1.83 (1.42-2.36); fruit punch RR 2.00 (1.33-3.03).
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 1.83 (1.42-2.36)
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Sugary drinks, including fruit punch, are linked with weight gain and diabetes.
- What are the study's limitations?
Observational design; residual confounding possible; Self-reported dietary intake
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation.
-
Sugary drinks and weight gain: meta-analysis
Malik VS et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2013 · PMID 23966427 · DOI 10.3945/ajcn.113.058362Meta-analysiscited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedAdding sugary drinks increased adult weight by about 0.85 kg in trials; cohorts show weight gain per serving.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Do SSBs promote weight gain?
- How was the study done?
Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohorts and RCTs.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
32 articles (cohorts n=25,745 children/174,252 adults; RCTs n=2,772/292); Children and adults
- What was actually found?
Cohorts: per daily serving BMI +0.06 (children) and +0.22 kg/year (adults, random effects); RCTs: children BMI -0.17 (-0.39 to 0.05) with reduction; adults +0.85 kg (0.50-1.20) with SSB addition.
- How large was the observed effect?
+0.85 kg (RCTs adults)
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Sugary drinks add weight.
- What are the study's limitations?
Child RCT estimate imprecise (random effects CI crosses 0); Overlap with other reviews
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports C-SOD-02.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Long-term size of effect.
-
Soda calories vs jelly-bean calories
DiMeglio DP, Mattes RD. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000 · PMID 10878689 · DOI 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801229Randomised controlled trialcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedPeople ate less to balance jelly-bean calories but not soda calories, and gained weight only with soda.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Do liquid and solid carbohydrate loads differ in dietary compensation?
- How was the study done?
Crossover feeding study (4-week periods).
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
15; Healthy adults (7 men, 8 women)
- What was actually found?
Solid: compensation 118%; liquid: -17%; body weight and BMI increased only during liquid period.
- How large was the observed effect?
Compensation 118% vs -17%
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Liquid sugar calories are less filling.
- What are the study's limitations?
Very small; Randomisation not described in abstract
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports C-SOD-02.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Long-term effect.
-
Sweetened drinks dose-response
Qin P et al.. Eur J Epidemiol 2020 · PMID 32529512 · DOI 10.1007/s10654-020-00655-yMeta-analysiscited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedEach extra 250 mL/day of sugary drinks was linked with 12-19% higher risks of obesity and diabetes; diet drinks showed similar links.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Dose-response of SSB/ASB with obesity, T2D, hypertension, mortality.
- How was the study done?
Dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohorts.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
39 articles; Adults
- What was actually found?
Per 250 mL/day SSB vs ASB: obesity RR 1.12 vs 1.21; T2D 1.19 vs 1.15; hypertension 1.10 vs 1.08; all-cause mortality 1.04 vs 1.06 (with I2 up to 92.6%).
- How large was the observed effect?
T2D RR 1.19 per 250 mL/d (SSB)
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
More sweetened drinks, more risk in observational data.
- What are the study's limitations?
High heterogeneity; Cohorts only; Reverse causation for ASB
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation, especially for diet drinks.
-
Sugar and body weight: trials and cohorts
Te Morenga L et al.. BMJ 2012 · PMID 23321486 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.e7492Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract only checked★ key studyEating more sugar increased body weight and eating less reduced it, through extra calories.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Is intake of dietary sugars associated with body weight?
- How was the study done?
Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs (>=2 weeks) and cohorts (>=1 year), Cochrane/GRADE methods (WHO-commissioned per literature; not stated in abstract).
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
30 trials; 38 cohorts; Adults and children
- What was actually found?
Adults ad libitum: reduced sugars -0.80 kg (0.39-1.21); increased sugars +0.75 kg (0.30-1.19); isoenergetic exchange 0.04 kg (-0.04 to 0.13). Children: SSB highest vs lowest OR 1.55 (1.32-1.82) for overweight at 1 year.
- How large was the observed effect?
-0.80 kg with reduction; +0.75 kg with increase
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
More sugar means more weight for most people.
- What are the study's limitations?
Heterogeneity in one analysis; Child trials low compliance
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Effects in isoenergetic diets (none found).
-
WHO sugar guideline
World Health Organization. WHO news release 2015Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key studyWHO recommends keeping free sugars, including honey and juice sugars, below 10% of energy.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Recommended limit for free sugars.
- How was the study done?
International guideline (news release read in full).
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable; Adults and children
- What was actually found?
Free sugars <10% of total energy (strong recommendation); further reduction <5% (~25 g, 6 teaspoons) conditional. Free sugars include sugars added by manufacturer, cook or consumer and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates; not sugars in fresh fruit, vegetables or milk. A can of sugar-sweetened soda contains up to 40 g free sugars.
- How large was the observed effect?
<10% energy (strong); <5% (conditional)
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Honey, juices and table sugar all count.
- What are the study's limitations?
Conditional recommendation for <5%
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Defines honey and juices as free sugars: contradicts C-SUG-01 and C-SUG-06; supports C-SUG-02.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applies globally including EU and Egypt.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not applicable.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (0)
No studies in this group.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)
No studies in this group.
Regional context
Germany / EU
The WHO guideline (2015) on free sugars and EFSA's 2022 opinion (intake of added and free sugars 'as low as possible') apply in Germany and the EU; the European EPIC cohort (A-SOD-17) found associations in 10 European countries including Germany.
Egypt
Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are widely sold in Egypt. No Egypt-specific study was reviewed for this claim; the physiological mechanisms and cohort findings are not known to differ by country, but absolute risks depend on local consumption and disease rates.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
Mostly true Sugary drinks promote weight gain through extra calories; this part of the archive's claim is well supported.
The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:
- Additives and processing
Honey, sugar, sweets
Choose a country to see the checked information for it.
Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.
Country of residence or purchase Compare with another country
References
- Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis.. Ludwig DS et al.. Lancet 2001 · PMID 11229668 · DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04041-1
- Sugar-sweetened beverages, weight gain, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young and middle-aged women.. Schulze MB et al.. JAMA 2004 · PMID 15328324 · DOI 10.1001/jama.292.8.927
- Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Malik VS et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2013 · PMID 23966427 · DOI 10.3945/ajcn.113.058362
- Liquid versus solid carbohydrate: effects on food intake and body weight.. DiMeglio DP, Mattes RD. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000 · PMID 10878689 · DOI 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801229
- Sugar and artificially sweetened beverages and risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and all-cause mortality: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.. Qin P et al.. Eur J Epidemiol 2020 · PMID 32529512 · DOI 10.1007/s10654-020-00655-y
- Dietary sugars and body weight: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and cohort studies.. Te Morenga L et al.. BMJ 2012 · PMID 23321486 · DOI 10.1136/bmj.e7492
- WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children (Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children, 2015) — news release. World Health Organization. WHO news release 2015