摘要：Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is linked to increased weight and obesity in children and remains the major source of added sugar in the typical US diet across all age groups. In an effort to improve the nutritional offerings for patients and employees within our institution, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, implemented an SSB ban in 2011 in all food establishments within the hospital. In this report, we describe how the ban was implemented. We found that an institutional SSB ban altered beverage sales without revenue loss at nonvending food locations. From a process perspective, we found that successful implementation requires excellent communication and bold leadership at several levels throughout the hospital environment. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is linked to increased weight and obesity in children and remains the major source of added sugar in the typical US diet across all age groups. 1 For the purposes of this report, we define SSBs as soft drinks (soda or pop), fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and any other beverages to which sugar, typically high fructose corn syrup or sucrose (table sugar), has been added. 2 Although recent studies indicate an overall trending down of SSB intake, higher rates of consumption occur among low-income and minority children. 1 In 2010 the Ohio legislature passed the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act to help schools play an active role in decreasing the high childhood obesity rates. 3 A component of this law includes an SSB ban in schools. In an effort to recognize the importance of and support this statewide initiative, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) partnered with leaders in the business community to gain bipartisan support for this legislation. To further emphasize support, NCH decided to lead by example and expand the hospital’s already existing Wellness Initiative to improve the nutritional offerings for patients and employees through implementation of an SSB ban in all food establishments within the hospital and approved catering companies. Such a ban would not only impact the food environment for children but also their families as well as hospital staff. In this report, we describe our implementation of an organizational SSB ban and report the beverage consumption and sales revenue for the years preceding and following the ban, as well as key steps to implementation.
