[ELI5] Why is soda (pop) considered “bad” for you?

Question

I get this all the time at the doctor’s office, but they never say what the particular mechanism is that *makes* it bad for you. So, what is it? Is it just “empty calories”? How can that have a negative impact on your kidneys (I hear a lot that drinking soda will give me kidney stones)?

I’m in ELI5, but ELI15 or even ELI25 would be preferred (non medical student level, though)

In: 3

Answer 1

It’s literally liquid sugar. Sugar is terrible for you and drinking liquid sugar doesn’t fill you up like eating sugary food does so you consume way more than you should.

Edit and salt can’t forget salt.