The soft drinks lobby has defended itself over links to obesity

The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has countered a new study linking excessive soft drinks consumption with diabetes.

The study, published this week in the journal Diabetologia, suggests that drinking more than one can of sugary soft drink a day is linked to an increased risk of diabetes in later life, the BBC reported. Based on the study, scientists said that a can a day raises the relative risk of diabetes by about a fifth, compared to a can a month or less. 

But, BSDA director general Gavin Partington said it is well-established that diabetes is the result of "many different factors". "This study does not look at causation and so cannot tell us if consuming soft drinks, or any other food or drink, is a further cause of diabetes," he said. 

Partington also questioned how up-to-date the figures are. "The survey is based on information about people’s food choices that is up to 16 years old, which is not going to be a very good guide as to what people are eating and drinking today." 

In February, the BSDA spoke out over a fresh call for an added tax on soft drinks in the UK.