{{Short description|US-based nonprofit organization}} {{Infobox organization | logo = | dissolved = {{End date|2015|11|30}} | type = Non-profit | purpose = [[Front group]] for Coca-Cola<ref name=NYT>{{cite web |url=http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/?_r=2 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |first=Anahad |last=O'Connor |date=August 9, 2015 |work=Well blog, nytimes.com |quote=The Global Energy Balance Network is nothing but a front group for Coca-Cola}}</ref> | leader_title = President<ref name=NYT /> | leader_name = [[James O. Hill]] | leader_title2 = Founder & Vice-President <ref name=NYT /> | leader_name2 = [[Steven N. Blair]] | leader_name3 = [[Gregory A. Hand]] | leader_title3 = Founder<ref name=NYT /> | name = Global Energy Balance Network | founded = {{Start date and age|2014}} at the [[University of Colorado]] and [[University of South Carolina]] | products = Obesity research | owner = [[Coca-Cola]] | website = {{URL|https://gebn.org}} (was registered to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta)<ref name=NYT /> }} The '''Global Energy Balance Network''' ('''GEBN''') was a US-based [[nonprofit organization]] claiming to fund research into causes of [[obesity]], but was primarily known for promoting the idea that lack of [[physical exercise]], not [[malnutrition|bad diet]], was primarily responsible for the [[obesity epidemic]]. It has been characterised as an [[astroturfing]]<ref name="ChoiceFrontGroups">{{cite web | url=https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/packaging-labelling-and-advertising/advertising/articles/front-groups-and-astroturfing | title=Front groups and 'astroturfing' | publisher=[[Choice (Australian consumer organisation)|Choice]] | accessdate=October 11, 2015}}</ref> organisation. It received substantial funding from [[Coca-Cola]].<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news | url=http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/?ref=business&_r=0 | title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets | work=New York Times | date=August 9, 2015 | accessdate=October 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYT_spending>{{Cite web|url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/coke-spends-lavishly-on-pediatricians-and-dietitians/|title = Coke Spends Lavishly on Pediatricians and Dietitians|date = 28 September 2015}}</ref> It has been criticised by nutrition experts for downplaying the role of junk food in obesity.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/11/obesity-junk-food-exercise-global-energy-balance-network-coca-cola | title=Nutrition experts alarmed by nonprofit downplaying role of junk food in obesity | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=August 11, 2015 | accessdate=October 11, 2015}}</ref> Critics have also accused the [[American College of Sports Medicine]] (ACSM) of supporting GEBN.<ref>{{Cite web|title = "Global Energy Balance Network" is Dead: "Exercise is Medicine," You're Next.|url = http://therussells.crossfit.com/2015/12/02/global-energy-balance-network-is-dead-exercise-is-medicine-youre-next/|website = THE RUSSELLS|date = 2 December 2015|access-date = 2016-01-15}}</ref> The ACSM claims it had no affiliation with GEBN.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/for-the-record |title=For the Record |website=ACSM.com |publisher=American College of Sports Medicine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310043738/https://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/for-the-record |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref>
GEBN's view of [[overweight|weight]] and metabolic health promoted the idea that weight loss can be achieved by taking more exercise while maintaining the same<ref name="O'Connor">{{Cite news|url=http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/cokes-chief-scientist-who-orchestrated-obesity-research-is-leaving/|title=Coke's Chief Scientist, Who Orchestrated Obesity Research, Is Leaving|last=O'Connor|first=Anahad|newspaper=Well|access-date=2016-12-09}}</ref> level of consumption<ref name="WaPo">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/11/the-worlds-largest-seller-of-sugary-drinks-is-telling-people-how-to-lose-weight/ | title=We don't need to drink less soda, according to research funded by Coca-Cola | newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | date=August 11, 2015 | accessdate=October 11, 2015}}</ref> - this view "crosses a line by advancing a view that falls outside the scientific consensus", and presents an overly simplistic view of the energy balance equation, with experts noting that "evidence for eating less as a weight-loss strategy is much, much stronger than the evidence for moving more".{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
== Outcome == Coca-Cola was given a 2015 [[Shonky Award]] by Australian consumer organisation [[Choice (Australian consumer organisation)|Choice]], due to its funding of GEBN,<ref name="SMHShonky">{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/samsung-ikea-cocacola-nab-and-kleenex-head-list-of-choice-shonky-award-winners-for-2015-20151006-gk2wgj.html | title=Samsung, Ikea, Coca-Cola, NAB and Kleenex head list of Choice Shonky Award winners for 2015 | work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=October 7, 2015 | accessdate=October 11, 2015}}</ref> which amounted to at least $1.5m in 2015.<ref name="NYTimes" />
On November 30, 2015, the group announced on its website that it would discontinue operations immediately.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-obesity group funded by Coke disbanding |agency=CBS News/AP |date=December 1, 2015 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-obesity-group-funded-by-coke-global-energy-balance-network-disbanding/ |accessdate=December 1, 2015}}</ref> Shortly before this, the chief public scientist at [[Coca-Cola]] announced her retirement.<ref name="O'Connor"/> Coca-Cola did not replace the position.
On August 2, 2016, it was announced Gregory Hand would be forced out as the Founding Dean of the [[West Virginia University]] School of Public Health.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/gregory-hand-forced-out-as-dean-of-west-virginia-school-of-public-health-amid-controversy-over-coca-cola-funding/|title=Gregory Hand Forced Out As Dean of West Virginia School of Public Health Amid Controversy Over Coca-Cola Funding - Corporate Crime Reporter|date=2016-08-02|newspaper=Corporate Crime Reporter|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-09}}</ref>
As of March 2020, a simplified (partly German-language) version of the website is up.<ref name="GBNcurrent">{{cite web |title=Global Balance Network |url=https://gebn.org/ |website=Global Balance Network |accessdate=30 March 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://gebn.org/ Official website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20151009014252/https://gebn.org/ GEBN Website from October 2015] in the [[Internet Archive]] *{{cite web | title=coca cola funding exercise research | website=MedCity News | date=2015-08-10 | url=https://medcitynews.com/2015/08/coca-cola-research-obesity-exercise-diet-global-energy-balance-network/ | ref={{sfnref | MedCity News | 2015}} | access-date=2021-06-09}}
[[Category:Obesity organizations]] [[Category:Coca-Cola]] [[Category:Organizations established in 2014]] [[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2015]]