What Is a Soda Addiction?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsCausesImpactHow to Drink Less SodaDiagnosisTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs

Causes

Impact

How to Drink Less Soda

Diagnosis

Treatment

Do you often find yourself craving a soda? Does your meal feel incomplete without a soda to wash it down? Do you drink soda every day, sometimes more than once a day? If so, it’s possible you may have a soda addiction.

Addictionis defined as physical or psychological dependence on a substance.

A soda addiction refers to an individual’s perceived need to consume large amounts of soda, saysMarney White, PhD, MS, a clinical psychologist at Yale School of Public Health, who specializes in eating and weight disorders.Dr. White specifies that while a soda addiction isn’t a formal health condition, people can develop anaddiction to caffeineconsumed through soda, or they can develop anaddictive response to the sugarin soda.

A soda addiction refers to an individual’s perceived need to consume large amounts of soda, saysMarney White, PhD, MS, a clinical psychologist at Yale School of Public Health, who specializes in eating and weight disorders.

Dr. White specifies that while a soda addiction isn’t a formal health condition, people can develop anaddiction to caffeineconsumed through soda, or they can develop anaddictive response to the sugarin soda.

This article explores the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of soda addiction, as well as the impact of excess soda consumption on your health.

Signs of Soda Addiction

According to Dr. White, some of the signs and symptoms of a soda addiction may be similar to thesymptoms of an alcohol or drug addiction. While you may not experience intoxication or altered consciousness, she says you may have symptoms such as:

What Is an Addictive Personality?

Causes of Soda Addiction

“As with any addiction, the causes begin with using the substance and developing a physical or psychological need to consume more,” says Dr. White.

These are some of the potential causes of soda addiction:

Impact of a Soda Addiction

A soda addiction is harmful because soda consumption has been linked to several serious health conditions, such as:

For instance, a 2013 study found that those who drink soda regularly are overweight compared to those who don’t.A 2012 study found that greater consumption of soda is linked to a higher risk of stroke.Another 2013 study notes that soda consumption is linked to the formation of kidney stones.

If you think you consume too much soda or that you might have a soda addiction, it’s a good idea to try and reduce your consumption. These are some tips that can help you reduce your soda intake:

Negative Effects of Sugar on the Brain

Diagnosing a Soda Addiction

If you’ve tried to reduce your soda intake but haven’t been successful, it may be helpful to see a mental health professional.

Soda addiction is not a formal diagnosis; however, in recent years, researchers have been investigating the concept offood addiction,says Dr. White.

Your healthcare provider will probably ask you about your soda consumption habits, lifestyle, symptoms, and family history to try to determine the cause. If necessary, they may also ask you to take other screening tests and exams.

Treatment for Soda Addiction

“Since soda addiction is not really a mental disorder, there is no formal treatment. However, in general, people struggling with food addictions tend to respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),” says Dr. White.

CBT is very effective in helping people modify problematic behaviors, including binge eating, various forms of addiction, and other compulsive behaviors, Dr. White explains. CBT can help target the problematic thought patterns that lead to unhealthy behaviors such as drinking soda.

CBT for Addiction

Final Thoughts

Soda, with its combination of caffeine and sugar, can hit just the right spot. However, research has linked soda consumption to a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. Soda can also be addictive, making you crave more and impairing your ability to control your consumption.

If you consume a lot of soda, you can take steps to reduce your consumption on your own. If you’ve tried and are unable to do so, it may be helpful to see a therapist.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Addiction. APADictionary of Psychology.Ferré S.Caffeine and substance use disorders.Journal of Caffeine Research. 2013;3(2):57-58. doi:10.1089%2Fjcr.2013.0015The Nutrition Source.Cravings. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.The Nutrition Source.Sugary drinks. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Brown TA, Keel PK.What contributes to excessive diet soda intake in eating disorders: Appetitive drive, weight concerns, or both?Eat Disord. 2013;21(3):265-274. doi:10.1080/10640266.2013.779190Johnson T, Gerson L, Hershcovici C.Systematic review: The effects of carbonated beverages on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.2010. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04232.Lutovac M, Popova OV, Macanovic G, et al.Testing the effect of aggressive beverage on the damage of enamel structure.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(7):987-993. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.180Bragg MA, White MA.Examining the relationship between soda consumption and eating disorder pathology.Adv Eat Disord. 2013;1(2). doi:10.1080/21662630.2013.742317Bernstein AM, de Koning L, Flint AJ, Rexrode KM, Willett WC.Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women.Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(5):1190-1199. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.030205Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC.Soda and other beverages and the risk of kidney stones.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2013;8(8):1389-1395. doi:10.2215/CJN.11661112Duffey KJ, Poti J.Modeling the effect of replacing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with water on energy intake, HBI score, and obesity prevalence.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):395. doi:10.3390/nu8070395Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration, and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.xZou Z, Wang H, d’Oleire Uquillas F, Wang X, Ding J, Chen H.Definition of substance and non-substance addiction.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1010:21-41. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-5562-1_2

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Addiction. APADictionary of Psychology.Ferré S.Caffeine and substance use disorders.Journal of Caffeine Research. 2013;3(2):57-58. doi:10.1089%2Fjcr.2013.0015The Nutrition Source.Cravings. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.The Nutrition Source.Sugary drinks. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Brown TA, Keel PK.What contributes to excessive diet soda intake in eating disorders: Appetitive drive, weight concerns, or both?Eat Disord. 2013;21(3):265-274. doi:10.1080/10640266.2013.779190Johnson T, Gerson L, Hershcovici C.Systematic review: The effects of carbonated beverages on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.2010. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04232.Lutovac M, Popova OV, Macanovic G, et al.Testing the effect of aggressive beverage on the damage of enamel structure.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(7):987-993. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.180Bragg MA, White MA.Examining the relationship between soda consumption and eating disorder pathology.Adv Eat Disord. 2013;1(2). doi:10.1080/21662630.2013.742317Bernstein AM, de Koning L, Flint AJ, Rexrode KM, Willett WC.Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women.Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(5):1190-1199. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.030205Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC.Soda and other beverages and the risk of kidney stones.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2013;8(8):1389-1395. doi:10.2215/CJN.11661112Duffey KJ, Poti J.Modeling the effect of replacing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with water on energy intake, HBI score, and obesity prevalence.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):395. doi:10.3390/nu8070395Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration, and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.xZou Z, Wang H, d’Oleire Uquillas F, Wang X, Ding J, Chen H.Definition of substance and non-substance addiction.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1010:21-41. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-5562-1_2

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Addiction. APADictionary of Psychology.Ferré S.Caffeine and substance use disorders.Journal of Caffeine Research. 2013;3(2):57-58. doi:10.1089%2Fjcr.2013.0015The Nutrition Source.Cravings. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.The Nutrition Source.Sugary drinks. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Brown TA, Keel PK.What contributes to excessive diet soda intake in eating disorders: Appetitive drive, weight concerns, or both?Eat Disord. 2013;21(3):265-274. doi:10.1080/10640266.2013.779190Johnson T, Gerson L, Hershcovici C.Systematic review: The effects of carbonated beverages on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.2010. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04232.Lutovac M, Popova OV, Macanovic G, et al.Testing the effect of aggressive beverage on the damage of enamel structure.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(7):987-993. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.180Bragg MA, White MA.Examining the relationship between soda consumption and eating disorder pathology.Adv Eat Disord. 2013;1(2). doi:10.1080/21662630.2013.742317Bernstein AM, de Koning L, Flint AJ, Rexrode KM, Willett WC.Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women.Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(5):1190-1199. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.030205Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC.Soda and other beverages and the risk of kidney stones.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2013;8(8):1389-1395. doi:10.2215/CJN.11661112Duffey KJ, Poti J.Modeling the effect of replacing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with water on energy intake, HBI score, and obesity prevalence.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):395. doi:10.3390/nu8070395Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration, and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.xZou Z, Wang H, d’Oleire Uquillas F, Wang X, Ding J, Chen H.Definition of substance and non-substance addiction.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1010:21-41. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-5562-1_2

American Psychological Association.Addiction. APADictionary of Psychology.

Ferré S.Caffeine and substance use disorders.Journal of Caffeine Research. 2013;3(2):57-58. doi:10.1089%2Fjcr.2013.0015

The Nutrition Source.Cravings. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The Nutrition Source.Sugary drinks. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Brown TA, Keel PK.What contributes to excessive diet soda intake in eating disorders: Appetitive drive, weight concerns, or both?Eat Disord. 2013;21(3):265-274. doi:10.1080/10640266.2013.779190

Johnson T, Gerson L, Hershcovici C.Systematic review: The effects of carbonated beverages on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.2010. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04232.

Lutovac M, Popova OV, Macanovic G, et al.Testing the effect of aggressive beverage on the damage of enamel structure.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(7):987-993. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.180

Bragg MA, White MA.Examining the relationship between soda consumption and eating disorder pathology.Adv Eat Disord. 2013;1(2). doi:10.1080/21662630.2013.742317

Bernstein AM, de Koning L, Flint AJ, Rexrode KM, Willett WC.Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women.Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(5):1190-1199. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.030205

Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC.Soda and other beverages and the risk of kidney stones.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2013;8(8):1389-1395. doi:10.2215/CJN.11661112

Duffey KJ, Poti J.Modeling the effect of replacing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with water on energy intake, HBI score, and obesity prevalence.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):395. doi:10.3390/nu8070395

Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration, and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x

Zou Z, Wang H, d’Oleire Uquillas F, Wang X, Ding J, Chen H.Definition of substance and non-substance addiction.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1010:21-41. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-5562-1_2

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