--- description: An anti-obesity research group backed by Coca-Cola is dismantling. title: Coke Obesity Research: Group to Dismantle Following Reports image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d6b868b821e326c/698873440b72e354576e70be/coca-cola-obesity-can.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Exercise & Fitness](/tag/exercisefitness/) ## Exercise & Fitness Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Anti-Obesity Group Backed By Coca-Cola to Shut Down ## Video: The Truth About Fat [Watch (HLS stream): The Truth About Fat](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/uYGhfNfS.m3u8) (5:15)  _Published 2014-06-12. When you want to lose weight or get healthy, what is the first thing you would normally cut from your diet? If you said fat, you're not alone_  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Dec 1, 2015 5:43 PM CUT  SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 16: Cans of Coca-Cola are seen on the shelf at Tower Market January 16, 2004 in San Francisco, California. Coca-Cola is being investigated by U.S. regulators over allegations raised by a former employee that it had inflated its earnings. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 16: Cans of Coca-Cola are seen on the shelf at Tower Market January 16, 2004 in San Francisco, California. Coca-Cola is being investigated by U.S. regulators over allegations raised by a former employee that it had inflated its earnings. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Dec 1, 2015 5:43 PM CUT An anti-obesity [research group](http://time.com/3992692/coca-cola-obesity/ "undefined") backed by Coca-Cola is to be dismantled following [media reports](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/emails-reveal-cokes-role-in-anti-obesity-group/ "undefined") calling into question whether members of the organization communicated inappropriately with their corporate sponsors. The Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN) advocated increased exercise to combat obesity ahead of changing dietary habits, a position that contradicts the consensus view that people should adapt their diet to combat obesity. An Associated Press report published last week showed members of the research group communicating extensively with Coca-Cola executives about how to establish the group “as the place the media goes to for comment on any obesity issue.” Despite the recent flood of negative publicity the group said in a [statement](https://gebn.org "undefined") posted to its website that it was shutting down due to a lack of resources. “GEBN is discontinuing operations due to resource limitations,” said the statement. “We appreciate the commitment to energy balance that the membership has demonstrated since our inception.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4131078/anti-obesity-coke-group/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4131078/anti-obesity-coke-group/"},"headline":"Anti-Obesity Group Backed By Coca-Cola to Shut Down","datePublished":"2015-12-01T17:43:38.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T13:00:19.106Z","description":"The group had played down the effect of poor diet on obesity","url":"https://time.com/4131078/anti-obesity-coke-group/","keywords":["Exercise & Fitness"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d6b868b821e326c/698873440b72e354576e70be/coca-cola-obesity-can.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Justin Worland","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/justin-worland/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d6b868b821e326c/698873440b72e354576e70be/coca-cola-obesity-can.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Coca Cola Can Obesity","caption":"Coca Cola Can Obesity","creditText":"Justin Sullivan—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/exercisefitness/","name":"Exercise & Fitness"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4131078/anti-obesity-coke-group/","name":"Anti-Obesity Group Backed By Coca-Cola to Shut Down"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Truth About Fat","description":"When you want to lose weight or get healthy, what is the first thing you would normally cut from your diet? 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