Schools selling less soda

American middle and high schools have significantly reduced the availability of sodas on campus, but sugar-loaded sports drinks are still widely sold, a study finds.

Research conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found 25 percent of high school students could access soda at school during the 2010-11 school year, down from 54 percent in 2006-07, according to the Los Angeles Times. The availability of soda in middle school dropped from 27 percent to 13 percent in the same time frame. But sugary sports drinks—intended for serious athletes during rigorous exercise—are still available to 83 percent of high school students on school grounds, down slightly from 90 percent in 2006-07. Previous studies have suggested sugary beverages are a big factor in the surge of obesity in American children.

Under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing updated nutritional standards for foods and drinks that can be sold at schools. It is expected to target sports drinks, milk that is not fat-free and flavored milk.