Honestly, ars technica is "kind of a raging dumpster fire." Over the past few years I've watched them transform from producing measured, interesting, informative articles to producing politics-laden "reactionary youth" idiocy, akin to Vox or Mic. Another one bites the dust, I guess.
I think that's the destiny of every platform as it becomes more popular, at least HN is still probably the best there is (if not please do link =D)
This is one of the most unprofessionally written science journalism pieces I've ever read; it was unbearable and I couldn't make it past the first third.
Just leave out the words, "sitting will kill you," and now you have a broadly applicable statement for most of the soft "sciences" today.
Does the author think people usually stand to drink soda?
The author claims that Coca Cola funds studies that diverts public health agenda to other topics, so they won't discuss the harmfulness of sugary beverages.
The cynical view would say that it's in Coca Colas best interest to reduce any other harmful behavior since if people who drink coke live longer they'll drink more coke.
Philip Morris ironically is also a huge fundraiser for cancer research.