A ban on extra-large sodas would target overweight Americans, children and teens especially, according to a new Columbia University study. Low-income people would not be disproportionately burdened by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed law, which would cap drink sizes at restaurants and event venues at 16 ounces. People who drink large sodas at home would not be affected.


“Our findings are clear: a law like this would address one of the fundamental causes of obesity—the growing portion size of sweetened drinks,” Dr. Y. Claire Wang, one of the researchers, said in a statement.


The ban was originally proposed by Bloomberg last year. It was blocked by a judge in March and is back in appeals court this week.


The U.S. leads the world in soda consumption as more and more American adults and children become obese.



Also on HuffPost:






  • No. 10: Arkansas


    Projected: 60.6 percent
    2011: 30.9 percent

    (Image via AP)




  • No. 9: Missouri


    Projected: 61.9 percent
    2011: 30.3 percent

    (Image via AP)




  • No. 7: Louisiana


    Projected: 62. 1 percent
    2011: 33.4 percent

    (Image via AP)




  • No. 7: Kansas


    Projected: 62.1 percent
    2011: 29.6 percent

    (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlycj5/2091863165/" target="_hplink">Image via Flickr</a>)




  • No. 6: Alabama


    Projected: 62.6 percent
    2011: 32 percent

    (Image via AP)




  • No. 5: South Carolina


    Projected: 62.9 percent
    2011: 30.8 percent

    (Image via AP)




  • No. 4: Tennessee


    Projected: 63.4 percent
    2011: 29.2 percent

    (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fkehren/2442538274/" target="_hplink">Image via Flickr</a>)




  • No. 3: Delaware


    Projected: 64.7 percent
    2011: 28.8 percent

    (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/1606094344/" target="_hplink">Image via Flickr</a>)




  • No. 2: Oklahoma


    Projected: 66.4 percent
    2011: 31.1 percent

    (Image via AP)




  • No. 1: Mississippi


    Projected: 66.7 percent
    2011: 34.9

    (Image via AP)