BEIJING (Xinhuanet) -- Reducing teenagers' intake of sugary drinks seems to help them lose weight and might stem the rising trend of childhood obesity, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Children's Hospital in Boston.

The study, published this month in the journal Pediatrics, comes as U.S. obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions, according to federal statistics.

Researchers found that home deliveries of noncaloric beverages had a beneficial effect on teens' weight loss.

"Simply educating teens to avoid sugar may not be enough," said Cara Ebbeling, co-director of obesity research at the Boston hospital, who also co-led the study with Dr. David Ludwig of the hospital's Division of Endocrinology. "We delivered calorie-free beverages to their homes and we found that the heaviest teens lost weight."

The trial enrolled 103 children aged 13 to 18, through a Boston area high school. The teens were offered a $100 mall gift certificate if they stuck with the six-month study.

All stayed in the trial, but those who did not receive home deliveries of four daily non-sweetened drinks gained weight, said Cara Ebbeling. Half the teens randomly picked were instructed to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and advised on choosing noncaloric drinks outside the home. They received monthly phone calls and refrigerator magnets reminding them to "Think Before You Drink."

The remaining teens, serving as a control group, were asked to continue their usual eating and drinking patterns.

At the trial's end, the group receiving beverage deliveries had an 82 percent reduction in consumption of sugary drinks, while intake in the control group remained unchanged.

The heavier the teen initially, the more weight they lost. The heavier teens lost about 1 pound per month, according to the study.

The control group had a slight increase in weight.

Ebbeling said the simple methodology could prove effective in battling obesity.