# Global Energy Balance Network

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US-based nonprofit organization

Global Energy Balance Network Founded 2014; 12 years ago (2014) at the University of Colorado and University of South Carolina Dissolved November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30) Type Non-profit Purpose Front group for Coca-Cola[1] Products Obesity research Owner Coca-Cola President[1] James O. Hill Founder & Vice-President [1] Steven N. Blair Founder[1] Gregory A. Hand Website gebn.org (was registered to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta)[1]

The **Global Energy Balance Network** (**GEBN**) was a US-based [nonprofit organization](/source/Nonprofit_organization) claiming to fund research into causes of [obesity](/source/Obesity), but was primarily known for promoting the idea that lack of [physical exercise](/source/Physical_exercise), not [bad diet](/source/Malnutrition), was primarily responsible for the [obesity epidemic](/source/Obesity_epidemic). It has been characterised as an [astroturfing](/source/Astroturfing)[2] organisation. It received substantial funding from [Coca-Cola](/source/Coca-Cola).[3][4] It has been criticised by nutrition experts for downplaying the role of junk food in obesity.[5] Critics have also accused the [American College of Sports Medicine](/source/American_College_of_Sports_Medicine) (ACSM) of supporting GEBN.[6] The ACSM claims it had no affiliation with GEBN.[7]

GEBN's view of [weight](/source/Overweight) and metabolic health promoted the idea that weight loss can be achieved by taking more exercise while maintaining the same[8] level of consumption[9] - 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Outcome

Coca-Cola was given a 2015 [Shonky Award](/source/Shonky_Award) by Australian consumer organisation [Choice](/source/Choice_(Australian_consumer_organisation)), due to its funding of GEBN,[10] which amounted to at least $1.5m in 2015.[3]

On November 30, 2015, the group announced on its website that it would discontinue operations immediately.[11] Shortly before this, the chief public scientist at [Coca-Cola](/source/Coca-Cola) announced her retirement.[8] 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](/source/West_Virginia_University) School of Public Health.[12]

As of March 2020, a simplified (partly German-language) version of the website is up.[13]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NYT_1-4) O'Connor, Anahad (August 9, 2015). ["Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets"](https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/?_r=2). *Well blog, nytimes.com*. The Global Energy Balance Network is nothing but a front group for Coca-Cola

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ChoiceFrontGroups_2-0)** ["Front groups and 'astroturfing'"](https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/packaging-labelling-and-advertising/advertising/articles/front-groups-and-astroturfing). [Choice](/source/Choice_(Australian_consumer_organisation)). Retrieved October 11, 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYTimes_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYTimes_3-1) ["Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets"](https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/?ref=business&_r=0). *New York Times*. August 9, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT_spending_4-0)** ["Coke Spends Lavishly on Pediatricians and Dietitians"](https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/coke-spends-lavishly-on-pediatricians-and-dietitians/). 28 September 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guardian_5-0)** ["Nutrition experts alarmed by nonprofit downplaying role of junk food in obesity"](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/11/obesity-junk-food-exercise-global-energy-balance-network-coca-cola). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. August 11, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [""Global Energy Balance Network" is Dead: "Exercise is Medicine," You're Next"](http://therussells.crossfit.com/2015/12/02/global-energy-balance-network-is-dead-exercise-is-medicine-youre-next/). *THE RUSSELLS*. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["For the Record"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160310043738/https://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/for-the-record). *ACSM.com*. American College of Sports Medicine. Archived from [the original](https://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/for-the-record) on March 10, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-O'Connor_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-O'Connor_8-1) O'Connor, Anahad. ["Coke's Chief Scientist, Who Orchestrated Obesity Research, Is Leaving"](https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/cokes-chief-scientist-who-orchestrated-obesity-research-is-leaving/). *Well*. Retrieved 2016-12-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WaPo_9-0)** ["We don't need to drink less soda, according to research funded by Coca-Cola"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/11/the-worlds-largest-seller-of-sugary-drinks-is-telling-people-how-to-lose-weight/). *[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)*. August 11, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SMHShonky_10-0)** ["Samsung, Ikea, Coca-Cola, NAB and Kleenex head list of Choice Shonky Award winners for 2015"](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). *[Sydney Morning Herald](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Anti-obesity group funded by Coke disbanding"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-obesity-group-funded-by-coke-global-energy-balance-network-disbanding/). CBS News/AP. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Gregory Hand Forced Out As Dean of West Virginia School of Public Health Amid Controversy Over Coca-Cola Funding - Corporate Crime Reporter"](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/). *Corporate Crime Reporter*. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2016-12-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GBNcurrent_13-0)** ["Global Balance Network"](https://gebn.org/). *Global Balance Network*. Retrieved 30 March 2020.

## External links

- [Official website](https://gebn.org/)

- [GEBN Website from October 2015](https://web.archive.org/web/20151009014252/https://gebn.org/) in the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

- ["coca cola funding exercise research"](https://medcitynews.com/2015/08/coca-cola-research-obesity-exercise-diet-global-energy-balance-network/). *MedCity News*. 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2021-06-09.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Global Energy Balance Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Energy_Balance_Network) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Energy_Balance_Network?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.