A Simple Intervention to Help Kids Lose Weight

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An incredibly simple way of helping students lose weight was discovered in a recent report published in JAMA Pediatrics. Making water available in school cafeterias has moderately decreased overweight cases in schools.

Time reports that school cafeterias with water jet machines saw a slight but significant decrease in the BMI and overweight rates of students. The high-tech water fountains which filter and cool tap water, appeal more to students than the ordinary water fountains since they are strategically placed in cafeterias where students can easily access. More so, the machines conveniently dispense the water into cups, eliminating the need for the students to bring their own cups or water bottles.

New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Education have placed the water jets in school cafeterias in 2009. This is to encourage students to increase water consumption during lunch. They also removed sugary and artificially treated drinks as well. This is part of the city's aggressive program to improve children's health.

In school with water jets, the risk of boys becoming overweight was decreased by 0.9 percent while the risk for girls is decreased by 0.6 percent. The effect is slightly greater for boys may be attributed to the fact that they drink more water than girls.

Admittedly these figures may be modest, but lead researcher Brian Elbel thinks this is significant in combating childhood obesity as reported in Philly.com.

Elbel who is an associate professor of population health and health policy at New York University School of Medicine said, "This is a small effect, but we are looking for anything that might be working for childhood obesity, and this is a low-cost intervention", Philly reports.

Elbel believes that the modest decrease in weight is the result of kids choosing water over other drinks like milk, sodas or juices. It is unlikely though that the decrease in weight is caused by the presence of water jets in schools. Rather it is the availability of water that essentially caused the change.

 He also thinks this could be adapted in home by making water more available to kids instead of other drinks. "A small change at home could have a big impact," he added as reported in Philly.

The researchers collected data on more than 1,200 New York City elementary and middle schools. Of these, 483 had water jets in their cafeteria and the rest none. The water jets were estimated to cost $1,000 as noted in the study.

When milk and other sugary drinks were removed from the cafeteria, kids opted for cool water instead when it's easily available. Between milk and water, water is still very much preferred.

Elbel hopes that his data will convince New York City to include water jet machines in all of its public schools.