- Framework of problems / Objective
- Spin or subjective interpretation of findings
- Financial Conflicts of Interest and Reporting Bias Regarding the Association between Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Weight Gain: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews
| Ref ID | 8 |
| First Author | M. Bes-Rastrollo |
| Journal | PLOS MEDICINE |
| Year Of Publishing | 2014 |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001578 |
| Keywords |
Author Allegiance Sponsorship bias Public health |
| Problem(s) |
Financial conflicts of interest of review authors Spin or subjective interpretation of findings |
| Number of systematic reviews included | 17 |
| Summary of Findings | 17 systematic reviews (with 18 conclusions) of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain or obesity were included. In six of the systematic reviews a financial conflict of interest with some food industry was disclosed. Among those reviews without any reported conflict of interest, 83.3% of the conclusions (10/12) were that sugar-sweetened beverage consumption could be a potential risk factor for weight gain. In contrast, the same percentage of conclusions, 83.3% (5/6), of those systematic reviews disclosing some financial conflict of interest with the food industry were that the scientific evidence was insufficient to support a positive association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and weight gain or obesity. Those reviews with conflicts of interest were five times more likely to present a conclusion of no positive association than those without them (relative risk: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.3–19.3). |
| Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? | Yes |
| Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? | Yes |