A new study by New York University discovered significantly lower obesity rates among New York City students at 1,127 public schools with water dispensers in lunchrooms. Free H20 in "water jet" machines reduced students' body mass index (BMI) after they were set up in NYC school cafeterias.

NYU's Langone Medical Center conducted the study. It was published in JAMA Pediatrics on January 19, Tuesday.

Like Us on Facebook

The study included more than 1 million public school students between kindergarten to eighth grade. Water dispensers helped boys' BMIs to drop 1 percent. Girls saw a BMI decrease of 6 percent.

Dr.  Brian Elbel Is a NYU Langone professor in the Department of Population Health. He explained that the BMI drops are equal to a weight loss of 4 to 5 pounds among an average overweight NYC middle schooler.

Elbel explained that the $1,000 dispensers were a cheap, easy to use, and effective method to lower childhood obesity, according to New York Daily News. He was one of the study's researchers.  

The study's authors concluded that free water from the lunchroom dispensers might cause students to choose it over less healthy drinks. They include soft drinks, chocolate milk, and sugary juices.

Another effect of drinking water is that it helps to reduce hunger. This might have caused the students to eat lighter lunches, which could have resulted in weight loss.

The NYC research team stressed the importance of drinking water. It is a key for preventing dehydration and maintaining a healthy diet.

Eibel noted that the NYC students seemed excited about the water jet machines. The units aerate (pass air through) the H20 before dispensing it.

NYC's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Education started installing the water jet machines in schools in 2009, according to Medical News Today. They are big, clear jugs for dispensing water.

Around 40 percent of schools in the region received the water machines during the study. It ran from 2008 to 2013.

The NYC researchers noted that milk is also healthy but has calories. Chocolate milk also has added sugar.

Studies show that almost 40 percent of students in the Big Apple are overweight. During the past three decades childhood obesity has doubled and quadrupled in adolescents. 

Here's how drinking water helps people to lose weight: