Every can of soft drink is half-an-hour of walking

A new online drink calculator shows you would have to walk 2.6 kilometres - the distance from the Melbourne State Library to the Shrine of Remembrance - to work-off the sugar in a 375ml soft drink.

The calculator was produced as part of the Rethink Sugary Drink campaign - a partnership between Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, and the National Heart Foundation, and supported by a number of stakeholders including Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV).

Dr Deborah Cole, DHSV Chief Executive, says: "Users select their gender, the state they live in, and how many of each type of drink they've consumed. The calculator then determines how far you will have to walk from the CBD to burn off those kilojoules."

She says the calulator is a wake-up call for everyone to cut back on sugar intake.

"Australia is among the top 10 countries, per capita, for consuming soft drinks," said Dr Cole.

"I hope that, by using this online tool, Australians can see for themselves the benefits of replacing sugary drinks with the healthier option - fluoridated water."

The Rethink Sugary Drink campaign began as a result of a growing concern over the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, and its association with increased energy in take, weight gain and obesity.

The campaign is supported by DHSV, Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, the National Heart Foundation, the Australian Dental Association Inc, Kidney Health Australia, Nutrition Australia, Obesity Policy Coalition, Stroke Foundation, and VACCHO.