Study: School Program Geared Toward Drinking Water Shows Promise Against Weight Gain in Children

The study, “Effectiveness of a School Drinking Water Promotion and Access Program for Overweight Prevention,” concluded a school-based program encouraging children to drink water prevented weight gain in children with overweight. This study, conducted in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, analyzed 1,262 students from 18 low-income, ethnically diverse elementary schools. The study, which is featured in the September 2023 issue of Pediatrics (published online Aug. 7), evaluated the impact of Water First, a school-based water promotion and access intervention, on changes in weight gain. The Water First program included classroom lessons, water bottle filling stations, and schoolwide water promotion over one school year. Researchers observed a 3.2% drop in the prevalence of overweight students. National standards set by Healthy People call for a 2.3% reduction in childhood obesity by 2030. While Water First did not affect obesity prevalence, it achieved comparable prevention of overweight – an important target for addressing obesity in adulthood. Greater access to safe and appealing drinking water is key to preventing weight gain since sugar-sweetened beverages are major contributors to overweight and obesity in children, particularly among low-income populations and people of color.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.