Reduced Availability of Sugar-sweetened Beverages and Diet Soda has a Limited Impact on Beverage Consumption Patterns in Maine High School Youth

Researchers at the University of Southern Maine analyzed the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (such as soda and sports drinks) among students in seven high schools in Maine to determine the impact of school-based restrictions on the availability of these beverages.

The authors of this article conclude that, although consumption of the sugar-sweetened beverages decreased during the 2-year study, the impact of the school-based restrictions reducing the availability of these beverages may be limited. They suggest that because consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is emerging a a potential factor in youth obesity, further research is needed with larger samples and more complex data analysis to show the efficacy of school food policies for youth especially susceptible to obesity.