Until recently the halls of North High in Minneapolis were lined with vending machines where students could buy soda pop and other sugary drinks, as they can in most other high schools in the nation. But with rates of childhood obesity sky-rocketing, the Minneapolis school district worried about pushing pop. The district needed a way to keep its lucrative vending contract with Coca-Cola while steering kids toward more healthful beverages. Bryan Bass, North's assistant principal, took the challenge. He stocked 12 of North's 16 vending machines only with water, priced at 75 cents a bottle. Three machines dispensed juice and sports drinks for $1. Only one sold soft drinks, at $1.25 per can. 'We located the water machines strategically outside our buildings, so when you come out of a classroom what you see is a water machine.' says Bass. 'We also decided to allow water in classrooms but not juice or pop.' The result? Profits from the vending machines nearly tripled, from $4,500 to $11,000 in two years. They're now in their third year, and Bass says, 'Water has become 'cool'.' North's success demonstrates what many obesity experts and parents believe Kids will learn to make healthful food and drink choices if they have access to them and are motivated to do so. 'Price is a powerful motivator,' says Simone French of the University of Minnesota, an expert on school-based obesity prevention. She's impressed with North's efforts, but she says the problem is implementing these strategies throughout society. 'Obesity is the biggest health issue facing kids, and we've got to do more.' How to do more was outlined last week in the Institute of Medicine's 460-page action plan, mandated by Congress, on 'Preventing Childhood Obesity.' Chaired by Emory University's Jeffrey Koplan, the plan is the first comprehensive look at childhood obesity and what government, industry, schools, communities, families, and medical professionals can do to reduce its impact. 'I think this is similar in importance to the first Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health in 1964,' Koplan says. That landmark document led to the health warning on cigarette packages and a ban on cigarette advertising on TV. In most American high schools, selling soft drinks is ______.