No soda in schools may not affect intake

PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The reduction or elimination of sugar-sweetened beverages from school menus has little effect on total soda consumption by teens, a U.S. researcher said.

"This study suggests that successful reduction of the availability of sugar-sweetened beverages can occur in public high schools," study leader Janet E. Whatley Blum of the University of Southern Maine said in a statement.

"However, these data suggest the effect of reduced availability in school of sugar-sweetened beverages on consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by high school students may be limited."

The study looked at four schools in Maine that reduced sugar-sweetened beverages availability for one school year -- intervention schools -- and three other schools that took no actions -- control schools.

The researchers tracked 456 students from six counties in southern and central Maine over two school years.

The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, found consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages decreased in all students, regardless of whether they attended an intervention or control school.