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Soft Drinks Supply Americans With More Calories Than Milk

The study found that between 1977 and 2001 the amount of energy that Americans get from soft drinks has tripled from 50 to 144 calories a day, while energy intake from milk declined from 143 calories to 99 calories a day.

Over that same period of time, the intake of energy from fruit drinks has increased from 20 calories to 45 calories.

The greatest reduction in milk consumption -- from 13.2 percent of total energy in 1977 to 8.3 percent of total energy in 2001 -- was among those aged 2 to 18. Over that same time, this group doubled their consumption of soft drinks and fruit drink.