A new study found that drinking diet soda may be related to increasing waistlines in older adults. Researchers studied how diet sodas affect the waistline over time, since fat in the midsection of the body can be dangerous to overall health. During the study, which lasted for about nine years, people who never drank diet soda saw their waistline increase by 0.8 inches. Occasional diet soda drinkers saw a 1.8 inch growth during that time, and daily soda drinkers saw a 3 inch growth. Waistline growth could be the result of diet soda consumption or other eating habits. Researchers recommend that diet soda drinkers balance their soda consumption with fresh-brewed tea, coffee, unsweetened mineral water, or fruit juices.