Sweet-toothed people of the world unite! A study published in the June 2008 issue of the American Society for Nutrition analyzed 10 major studies and found that there is a near-zero association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and body weight. This means that sugar-sweetened beverages are not the cause of obesity.

Some people think that obesity is caused by only one thing, primarily sugar-sweetened beverages. But could this be the truth? Could a long-term and complicated lifestyle disease such as obesity be caused by a single type of beverage alone?

Of course not. here's why:

The study entitled "Sugar-sweetened beverages and body mass index in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis" stated, "The causes of obesity are numerous and complex; involving genetic, psychological, social, and environmental components. (R. Forshee, P. Anderson, M. Storey. 2008)."

Ten relevant English articles correlating sugar-sweetened beverages and body mass index were reviewed. These studies were published between 1996 and 2006. The review of these studies showed that close to zero relations were found between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and increase in BMI.

The study then highlighted the true causes of obesity. ".Excess energy consumption will lead to weight gain. Dietary advice and education for children and adolescents should clearly communicate that SBs should only be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Children and adolescents who are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight should identify all sources of excess calories and work to modify their diet and increase their physical activity (R. Forshee, P. Anderson, M. Storey. 2008)."

Obesity is a complex lifestyle disease brought about by many factors. Certainly, no one single type of food can be the cause of obesity. It is developed based on lifestyle choices made everyday. What's important is to maintain balance in life.

Analyze for a second the age-old saying that "Too much of something is bad." Life is all about balance: A balance of work and play, a balance of dreams and realities. Given this, there's no reason why your health shouldn't have balance either, a balance of what you need and what you enjoy to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

Living a healthy and active lifestyle or HAL is something that everyone can do. It just involves three key values: a balanced diet, regular physical activity and proper hydration.

Different foods give your body different amounts of protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet means you need to eat a wide variety of foods to make sure that your body gets everything it needs to stay healthy and active. There are no "junk foods" so to speak, only junk diets or bad combinations of food and excessive eating. What's more important is to maintain a balance between what you eat and how much you burn through the second HAL value, physical activity.

Physical activity can mean anything like household chores and other daily routines, which can get your body moving, sweating and burning calories. What's important is to do it at least an hour to an hour and half each day, according to experts. Why not try washing the windows at home, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator at the office? Do whatever physical activity you enjoy and which can fit into your lifestyle.

The third HAL value, Hydration, is something that most people tend to forget, which is unfortunate because it's very important for optimum health. According to the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness (BIHW), to stay hydrated you need to take 11-16 cups of total fluids each day depending on your age, weight, gender, the weather and your level of physical activity. Fluids mean that water is not your only choice for hydration. Your favorite beverages like soft drinks, teas and juices can help hydrate too. Foods with water like fruits, vegetables, soups and stews can help as well.