The world?s three largest soft drink companies on Wednesday agreed to ban most soda sales in US public schools and distribute only lower-calorie and nutritious beverages in an effort to tackle soaring rates of childhood obesity.

Nearly 35m students will be affected by the new guidelines, established by the American Heart Association and former President Bill Clinton?s charitable foundation, and agreed to by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Cadbury Schweppes.