Nightly News   |  September 21, 2012

Sugary drinks linked to obesity

New research helps explain why sugary drinks are under such heavy attack in the fight against obesity. NBC’s Robert Bazell reports.

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>>> in health news tonight, this national campaign against large, sugary drinks, we all know the ones. the city of new york has been in the news for passing a ban that will soon go into effect, all aimed at the obesity epidemic. and tonight, there is new light shed on the connection. tonight, robert bazell , our chief correspondent.

>> reporter: dr. david ludwid and his team at children's hospital in boston counsel young people who are trying to lose weight .

>> now, it is apples, bananas.

>> sugary beverages can affect weight quite quickly, perhaps more than any food group .

>> reporter: he was one of more than 24 overweight or obese adolescents. half of the household got calorie- free drinks and were encouraged to give up sugary sweet beverages.

>> i got encouraged to always reach for the water, have it right by me.

>> reporter: after the year, the kids getting the non-calorie drinks gained four pounds on average, than those not getting it. the study concentrates on the emerging understanding on how some people are disposed to putting on weight.

>> people who tend to gain weight or become obese are much more likely to do so if they drink soda or sugar-sweetened beverages.

>> reporter: scientists increasingly believe that sugary drinks put on more weight than other same type of calorie food foods.

>> they may under mine the body's ability to regulate weight.

>> reporter: the american beverage association responded in a written statement, sugar-sweetened beverages are not driving obesity. they play a small and declining role in the american diet. many scientists say this latest evidence shows that role needs to decline even further. robert bazell , nbc news, new york.