Banning fizzy drinks in schools 'makes no difference to childhood obesity'
Banning children from consuming fizzy drinks during school hours will not help in the battle against childhood obesity, scientists in the United States have argued.While a number of both primary and secondary schools on both sides of the Atlantic may impose bans on junk food in a bid to ensure their pupils stick to a healthy diet, research carried out at the University of Illinois in Chicago suggests taking such a step actually makes no real difference.
Indeed, their own studies found no differences between schools where such bans are in place and those where there are no dietary rules when it comes to levels of childhood obesity.
Indeed, around half of the pupils polled revealed that, even if their school bans the consumption of fizzy drinks, they still manage to enjoy sweetened beverages on a regular basis.
Writing up their findings in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, the team concluded: "Even comprehensive sugar-sweetened beverage policies were not associated with overall consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, which was largely independent of students' in-school sugar-sweetened beverage access."
Just last month, a new 'Food Dudes' initiative was launched at Moorcroft Wood Primary School in Walsall with the aim of encouraging pupils to shun junk food in favour of fruit and vegetables.
