A new study called Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures is testing whether childcare centers can help young children drink more water and less sugary beverages by making water easier to access and sugary drinks harder to find. According to Gram Research analysis, the program combines environmental changes at childcare centers with education for parents and teachers. Researchers will measure whether this approach reduces children’s weight gain and increases water consumption over 10 months in 14 California childcare centers serving low-income families.
Researchers are testing a new program called Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures that helps childcare centers encourage children to drink more water and less sugary drinks. The study involves 14 childcare centers in California serving mostly low-income Latino children ages 2-5. The program makes changes to childcare environments to make water easier to access and sugary drinks harder to find, while also teaching parents and childcare workers about healthy drinking habits. According to Gram Research analysis, if this program works, it could help prevent childhood obesity and establish healthy drinking habits early in life.
Key Statistics
A cluster randomized controlled trial published in Contemporary Clinical Trials in 2026 is testing a Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures intervention across 14 childcare centers in Santa Clara County, California, serving predominantly low-income Latino children ages 2-5 years.
The Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures study measures primary outcomes including child BMI Z-score at baseline, 6 months, and 10 months, with dietary outcomes tracked through plate waste observation and 24-hour dietary recalls to assess water and beverage calorie intake.
Research shows that water promotion programs combined with education for childcare providers and parents may reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake and help prevent overweight and obesity in young children, though large-scale evidence in childcare settings remains limited.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a program that makes water more available and sugary drinks less available in childcare centers can help young children drink healthier beverages and maintain a healthier weight.
- Who participated: Children ages 2-5 years old attending 14 childcare centers in Santa Clara County, California. Most participants come from low-income families and are Latino.
- Key finding: This is a study protocol paper describing the research plan rather than final results. The study will measure whether the intervention reduces children’s weight gain and increases water consumption over 10 months.
- What it means for you: If successful, this research could show childcare centers and parents how to help young children develop healthy drinking habits early. This matters because drinking habits formed in childhood often continue into adulthood.
The Research Details
This is a cluster randomized controlled trial, which means researchers randomly assigned entire childcare centers to either receive the Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures program or continue with their normal practices. This type of study is considered very reliable because it compares two groups and uses random assignment to reduce bias.
The intervention has three main parts: First, childcare centers make environmental changes like installing water fountains, keeping water bottles available, and removing sugary drinks from easy reach. Second, childcare workers and children receive education about why water is better than sugary drinks. Third, parents get brief counseling sessions to help them reduce sugary drinks at home and encourage water drinking.
Researchers will track children’s weight using standard measurements at the start, around 6 months, and around 10 months. They’ll also measure what children actually drink by looking at leftover food on plates and asking parents about drinks consumed at home.
This research design is important because it tests whether changes in the childcare environment actually lead to healthier children, not just whether children know water is better. By measuring real-world changes in weight and drinking habits, researchers can see if the program truly works in practice.
This is a well-designed study that follows established research methods. It uses random assignment of childcare centers, which helps ensure fair comparison. The study measures outcomes multiple times over 10 months, which is better than measuring only once. However, this paper describes the study plan, not the results, so we don’t yet know if the program actually works.
What the Results Show
This paper is a study protocol, meaning it describes the research plan before results were collected. The researchers have not yet published the actual findings. The primary outcome they will measure is children’s BMI Z-score, which is a standardized way to compare children’s weight to healthy ranges for their age and height.
The study will also measure how much water children drink and how many calories they consume from beverages while at childcare and at home. Researchers will use plate waste observation (looking at leftover food) and 24-hour dietary recalls (asking parents what their child ate and drank) to track beverage intake.
The study will run for approximately 10 months total, with measurements taken at the beginning, around the 6-month mark, and at the end. This timeline allows researchers to see both short-term and longer-term effects of the intervention.
Secondary outcomes include how often children drink different types of beverages (water, milk, juice, sugary drinks) and whether the program affects childcare center practices and policies. The study will also examine whether the intervention is equally effective across different groups of children and families.
Previous research has shown that simply providing access to drinking water in schools can increase water consumption and reduce sugary drink intake. However, most studies have focused on older school-age children, not young children in childcare. This study is important because it tests whether a more comprehensive approach, combining environmental changes, education, and parent counseling, works better for younger children ages 2-5.
This paper describes the study plan rather than results, so we cannot yet evaluate how well the program works. The study includes only 14 childcare centers in one California county, so results may not apply to other regions or different populations. The study focuses on low-income Latino families, which means results may differ for other groups. Additionally, the 10-month study period is relatively short for measuring lasting changes in weight and drinking habits.
The Bottom Line
This research has not yet produced results, so no direct recommendations can be made. However, the study design suggests that childcare centers and parents should consider: (1) making water easily accessible to young children, (2) reducing the availability of sugary drinks, and (3) teaching children about healthy beverage choices. These strategies are supported by previous research even though this specific program’s results are pending.
Parents of young children ages 2-5, childcare center directors and staff, public health professionals, and policymakers interested in childhood obesity prevention should follow this research. The findings will be most relevant to childcare centers serving low-income communities, though the strategies may benefit all children.
The study will collect data over approximately 10 months. If the program is effective, researchers expect to see measurable changes in children’s beverage intake within the first 6 months and changes in weight status by 10 months. However, establishing lasting healthy habits typically requires longer-term follow-up beyond this study period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can childcare centers really help kids drink less soda and more water?
The Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures study is testing this approach by making water accessible and removing sugary drinks from childcare centers while educating parents and teachers. Previous research suggests environmental changes combined with education can increase water intake and reduce sugary drink consumption in children.
What age children does this healthy beverage study focus on?
The Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures study focuses on children ages 2-5 years old attending childcare centers. This age group is important because drinking habits formed early in childhood often continue into adulthood, making it an ideal time to establish healthy patterns.
How long does it take to see weight changes from drinking more water?
The Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures study measures weight changes over 10 months, with check-ins at 6 months and 10 months. Researchers expect measurable changes in beverage intake within 6 months, though lasting weight changes typically require longer-term follow-up beyond the study period.
Will this healthy drinks program work for all children or just low-income families?
The Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures study specifically tests the program with low-income Latino families in California. While the strategies may benefit all children, results may differ for other populations and regions, so more research is needed to confirm effectiveness across diverse groups.
What exactly does the Healthy Drinks intervention include?
The program has three components: environmental changes at childcare centers (water fountains, water bottles, removing sugary drinks), education for childcare workers and children about healthy beverages, and brief counseling sessions with parents to reduce sugary drinks at home and encourage water consumption.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track your child’s daily water intake and sugary beverage consumption using a simple counter or checklist. Record the number of water servings and sugary drinks (soda, juice, sweetened milk) consumed each day to identify patterns and progress toward reducing sugary drinks.
- Set a specific goal to replace one sugary drink per day with water. Use the app to log this substitution daily and celebrate weekly milestones. Share progress with your child’s childcare center to align home and school efforts.
- Measure your child’s weight monthly at home or during pediatric visits and track the trend over 3-6 months. Combine this with the daily beverage tracking to see if reducing sugary drinks correlates with healthier weight changes. Review progress every 4 weeks and adjust strategies as needed.
This article describes a research study protocol published in Contemporary Clinical Trials. The study has not yet released final results, so conclusions about the program’s effectiveness are not yet available. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Parents and childcare providers should consult with pediatricians or registered dietitians before making significant changes to children’s diets or beverages. Individual results may vary based on age, health status, and other factors.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
