The new Pediatrics report provides dramatic evidence that the empty calories in soda and noncarbonated soft drinks promote weight gain in overweight teenagers.

If the soft drink industry had any respect for children's health, it would extend its recent pull-out from elementary schools and remove soda, "sports" drinks, and other high-calorie beverages from middle and high schools.

School boards and legislatures that haven't ejected soda from all schools already should see this study as another compelling reason why they should do so. The small profit that schools earn from soda sales does not justify a practice that causes health problems in students.