The reality is that no one food, beverage or ingredient uniquely causes obesity, or other similarly complex public health challenges. Many factors contribute, including inactivity, genetics, age, medicine, and overall diet. With this, science shows that, among the factors we can control, we can balance calories from all sources with physical activity to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, singling out one category of calories is, frankly, wholly unproductive.

Education, not regulation, can make a positive difference in changing consumer habits and lifestyles for the long-term, however.