Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Global Energy Balance Network

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President
  
James O. Hill

Founder
  
Gregory A. Hand

Founder & Vice-President
  
Steven N. Blair

Extinction
  
30 November 2015

Global Energy Balance Network dg6qn11ynnp6acloudfrontnetwpcontentuploads20

Purpose
  
front group for Coca Cola

Website
  
gebn.org (was registered to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta)

Founded
  
University of South Carolina

Similar
  
Center for Science in the Public, Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation, International Life Sciences, Academy of Nutrition and Diete, American College of Sports M

Dr steven blair of coca cola and acsm s global energy balance network


The Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN) was a US-based nonprofit claiming to fund research into causes of obesity, but was primarily known for promoting the idea that lack of exercise, not bad diet, was primarily responsible for the obesity epidemic. It has been characterised as an astroturfing organisation. It received substantial funding from Coca-Cola. It has been criticised by nutrition experts for downplaying the role of junk food in obesity. Critics have also accused the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) of supporting GEBN. The ACSM claims it had no affiliation with GEBN.

Contents

GEBN's view of weight and metabolic health promoted the idea that weight loss can be achieved by taking more exercise while maintaining the same level of consumption - this view "crosses a line by advancing a view that falls outside the scientific consensus", and presents an overly simplistic view of the energy balance equation, with experts noting that "evidence for eating less as a weight-loss strategy is much, much stronger than the evidence for moving more".

Greg glassman on the global energy balance network metabolic slide to oblivion


Outcome

Coca-Cola was given a 2015 "Shonky Award" by Australian consumer organisation Choice, due to its funding of GEBN, which amounted to at least $1.5m in 2015.

On November 30, 2015, the group announced on its website that it would discontinue operations immediately. Shortly before this, the chief public scientist at Coca-Cola announced their retirement. Coca-Cola did not replace the position.

On August 2nd, 2016, it was announced Gregory Hand would be forced out as the Founding Dean of the West Virginia University School of Public Health. Steven Blair would also leave the University of South Carolina at the conclusion of the 2015-2016 academic year.

References

Global Energy Balance Network Wikipedia