A recent study at Cornell University found that children who drink more than 12 ounces of sweetened drinks a day gained up to 2.5 pounds more than those who drank less than 6 ounces. On average, the children who drank more soft drinks were consuming 244 extra calories per day. The children did not compensate for the increased calories by reducing their food intake.

These findings suggest that soda and other sweetened drinks may be a significant factor in the increase of obesity in American children.

The Cornell University study also confirmed that the more sugary drinks children consume, the less likely they are to drink milk. As well as missing out on up to 16 percent of the calcium they require each day, the children who participated in the study were also missing out on phosphorus, protein, magnesium and vitamin A.

To encourage children drink more milk, the researchers recommend serving milk without offering the alternative of soft drink. They found that when milk was offered at meals without alternative drink choices, the children drank milk 96 percent of the time. However, when milk or soft drinks were offered, the children only chose milk 42 percent of the time.

When soda and fruit juice replace milk or calcium-enriched soy milk in the diet, there is an increased risk of osteoporosis later in life - particularly for girls who, by age 16, have attained 80 percent of peak bone mass. Any shortfall of bone mass at that time is difficult to make up later.

Another issue of concern is high-fructose corn syrup. This fruit-based sugar is used as a sweetener in most soft drinks, bakery goods, ketchup and many other highly processed foods. It is a cheap ingredient to produce, more so than may other sugars, and is therefore very prevalent in the food marketplace.

Studies now suggest that high-fructose corn syrup is metabolized in the body in such a way that adversely affects blood triglyceride fat levels and also encourages the storage of fat. This is of particular concern to people who have diabetes, especially since high-fructose corn syrup has previously been recommended as an alternative to sugar for diabetics. This recommendation no longer stands.

Natural sources of fructose, however, are not a cause for concern. Fruits and honey contain only small amounts of fructose, especially compared to the levels contained in many processed foods, although fruit juices are more concentrated in fructose.