School soft-drink bans have little health benefit, study finds

There is no significant difference in soft-drink consumption between students who go to elementary schools that ban sodas and those that do not, according to a new study.

Appearing in the September issue of The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study found that only about 4 percent fewer children in no-soda schools said they did not drink soft drinks (Source: “Nutrition: Soda Ban in Schools Has Little Impact,” New York Times, Sept. 23, 2008).

In recent years, more school districts have considered banning high-calorie soft drinks to address increasing rates of childhood obesity. While researchers concluded that restrictions do have some benefit, they also suggest that policymakers consider strategies that focus on broader dietary habits in the home and at school.

The study analyzed 2004 surveys of 10,000 fifth graders in 40 states.