By downplaying the role of caloric intake and dietary choices in managing body weight, many health experts felt the GEBN was directly involved in Coca-Cola's public relations efforts to continue selling sugary drinks, despite abundant evidence that the drinks contribute to the country's obesity crisis.
The University of Colorado medical school, where GEBN president James Hill is an obesity researcher and professor, returned a $1 million grant from Coke after concerns about the GEBN surfaced.
Records show that the network's website, gebn.org, is registered to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, and the company is also listed as the site's administrator.
By downplaying these dietary factors and focusing entirely on exercise as the single biggest determinant of weight management, the GEBN muddies already murky waters that the public needs every assistance in clarifying.