Soft drink sales in North Dakota's schools contribute to child weight problems and bone loss, says a pediatrician who supports legislation to ban all fizzy drinks from elementary and middle schools.

Soda "is very acidic," Dr. Parag Kumar told the North Dakota House's Education Committee on Wednesday. "You can use it to take the rust off your bumper … If the children are drinking so much pop, then calcium is leached out of the bones. We are sitting on the verge of an osteoporosis epidemic."

Rep. Scot Kelsh, D-Fargo, is the primary sponsor of the bill, which would prohibit carbonated drinks from being sold during the school day in an elementary or middle school.

The ban would affect diet and regular soda, fizzy water and any other carbonated drink. The Education Committee will decide later whether to recommend that the full House approve the bill.

Linda Glaser, the child nutrition director in the Department of Public Instruction, said many of North Dakota's larger school districts already don't allow soft drink sales in elementary and middle schools.

Some school districts have gone further. In Bismarck schools, for example, students may buy only milk, water and 100 percent fruit juice during the day, said Karen Ehrens, a dietitian who is a member of the school district's health council.

The bill is HB1451.