Diet Coke Weight Loss Controversy: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Secretly Funded Positive Study On Diet Coke Weight-Loss Benefits, According To Report

A recent research that says Diet Coke can help lose weight had many people rejoicing and celebrating the sweet soda drink's supposed health benefits. Unfortunately, a new report says that the said study might be biased since it was secretly funded by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

The report from The Independent says that the scientific study led by Bristol University biological psychology professor Peter Rogers was backed up by ILSI Europe and was funded by the two giants in soda drinks. "Although more than 5,500 papers were reviewed, the comparison of diet drinks with water was based on just three," written in the report from The Independent. "Two did not find any significant statistical difference in weight loss, and only one paper, funded by the American Beverage Association, found that those drinking diet drinks were more likely to help anyone lose weight."

"To suggest that diet drinks are healthier and drinking water is a laughable unscientific nonsense," National Obesity Forum advisor and Cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra told The Independent. "If you want good science, you cannot allow corporate sponsorship of research."

According to a statement from the spokesperson, the university is standing by the findings of the controversial study. He said that since the study was published in the International Journal of Obesity, the information and conclusion have also been reviewed by other scientists. He also states that other bodies like NHS and European Union funded the research.

Diet coke can cause rotting of the teeth, adds excess fat deposits, and mimics the effects of cocaine, according to The Renegade Pharmacist blog runner Niraj Naik, as reported by Mirror. Live Strong also says that diet soda can cause dehydration, lower calcium production in the body, cause type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, headaches, shakiness, abnormal heart rhythms, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, moodiness and digestive problems.