A can of soda a day can pack on an extra 15 pounds of body weight per year. Now before any bodybuilders start chugging soda, keep in mind we're not talking about the kind of weight you'd be proud to carry around.

"We tried to look at the big picture rather than individual studies," and it clearly justifies public health efforts to limit sugar-sweetened beverages, said Dr. Frank Hu, who led the report published Tuesday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

What is more alarming is that few people only drink one can of soda a day. A "can" is 12 oz of soda these days, but the "small" soda at most fast food joints and restaurants is 24oz. The more commonly purchased size is 32oz. Many people are chugging 1 - 2 quarts of soda a day!

But then the more insidious form of sugary death comes in a designer cup.

In another post I did the math on the amount of sugar calories from a “tall” coffee drink from a popular hang out. According to one barista I’ve met, most people are ordering the “venti” size. I know some people who literally drink three of those a day. It’s an amazing amount of money to spend on something that not only do you not need, but for something that is in fact NOT GOOD for you.

I believe food should be pleasurable, and I also get my tall skim latte about once a week (which is still about 200 calories of refined junk that I don’t NEED in my body). There is a huge difference though between “fun to eat” and outright gluttony. With obesity on the rise, along with Diabetes and strokes, we are paying the price for that gluttony.

We’re a long way from moderation…