Research paper
Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Després JP, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2010 Nov;33(11):2477-2483. doi:10.2337/dc10-1079. PMID: 20693348. PMCID: PMC2963518.
Why we cite it
The definitive early meta-analysis establishing SSBs as an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The critical finding is that approximately half the diabetes risk is independent of weight gain — liquid sugar causes direct metabolic harm beyond its calorie contribution. Relevant to the project because it demonstrates that what you drink matters separately from how much you eat, and that not all calories are metabolically equivalent.