A randomized trial conducted in Boston has found that obese adolescents lost weight when they drank water or non-caloric beverages instead of sugary drinks or 100% fruit juice. The non-caloric beverages were delivered to the kids homes for one year. Two year differences were negilible, suggesting that many returned to sugary drinks.
PositiveTip: Calories from sugar-laden drinks make a difference for adolescents (and probably adults, too).