Coke-funded group swayed China’s obesity efforts, papers say

By: Candice Choi, The Associated Press Posted: 8:31 AM CST Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 Last Modified: 8:33 AM CST Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019

Advertise with us

NEW YORK - New research says a food industry-funded group undermined China's efforts to keep obesity rates in check by overemphasizing the importance of physical activity rather than dietary habits.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

NEW YORK - New research says a food industry-funded group undermined China's efforts to keep obesity rates in check by overemphasizing the importance of physical activity rather than dietary habits.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2019 (2772 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK – New research says a food industry-funded group undermined China’s efforts to keep obesity rates in check by overemphasizing the importance of physical activity rather than dietary habits.

The International Life Sciences Institute was created by a former Coke executive and is funded by companies including McDonald’s, PepsiCo and Red Bull. In China, it organized obesity conferences focusing on physical activity, with speakers including Coke-funded researchers and a Coke executive. The group enjoyed close ties to government health agencies, according to papers in The BMJ and The Journal of Public Health Policy.

Susan Greenhalgh, a Harvard scholar who wrote the papers, says ILSI’s activities show the difficulty in assessing how food makers could skew public policy around the world.