West Virginia teens drink more soda than any other state, survey says

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia just received the green light to remove soda from food stamps/SNAP, which could help cut down on teen soda consumption in the state.

According to data collected by PA Requirements, a continuing education blog about high school students, more than 22% of high schoolers in West Virginia drink multiple soft drinks every day, which is the highest rate in the country. Of the participants, more than 31% said they drink at least one soda/pop every day.

For comparison, the U.S. average of all states said that only 8.5% of American high schoolers drink at least two sodas and that 14.7% drink at least one per day, which is less than half of rate of West Virginia teens.

Only 20% of West Virginia teens said they do not drink any soda, compared to 31% nationally.

According to State of Childhood Obesity, West Virginia has by far the highest rate of obesity in high schoolers at nearly 27% and the second highest rate of child obesity in the U.S.

After West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee had the highest teen soda consumption.