A new review of the latest evidence on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) – which includes 30 new studies published between 2013 and 2015 (and none of them industry sponsored) – concludes that SSB consumption is associated with overweight and obesity, and that countries that have not already done so should take action to reduce the consumption of the so-called 'empty calories' that these drinks contain. The review is published in the journal Obesity Facts, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO).

This new, more recent evidence suggests that SSB consumption is positively associated with obesity in children. By combining the already published evidence with this new research, it can be concluded that in many ways should already be obvious: public health policies should aim to reduce the consumption of SSBs and encourage healthy alternatives such as water. Yet to date, actions to reduce SSB consumption in many countries are limited or non-existent.