US Features
Clinton wrestles US obesity: no more sweet soda in US schools
By Pat Reber
May 3, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - Former US president Bill Clinton, who never could resist a doughnut or French fries on the campaign trail, has taken his get-healthy campaign into the nation's schools.

On Wednesday, he unveiled an agreement by the US soda and drink industry to stop tempting students with sugary and fat-loaded drinks in the schools - and warned that nations like India, Argentina and Ireland are wrestling with similar obesity problems.

The drinks, along with high-fat fast food, are blamed for contributing to an alarming increase in obesity among children and adults in the US.

Under the agreement, brokered by the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association (AHA), the giant drink manufacturers Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, along with the American Beverage Association, have agreed to limit sales of high caloric drinks in US schools.

'The truth is that children born today could become part of the first generation in American history to live shorter lives than their parents because so many are eating too much of the wrong things and not exercising enough,' Clinton said in broadcast remarks.

Clinton, whose late night raids for pizza and hamburgers were legendary during his time at the White House, had quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2004 after a highly publicized campaign to lose weight.

The school drinks agreement was reached after 'complicated and occasionally difficult negotiations,' Clinton said, adding that it was a 'truly significant thing' for the industry to do, and it was 'not entirely free of risks' for them.

US schools allow drink and snack companies to install vending machines in return for a share in the profits, a practice under attack by the medical community and, increasingly, from parents and state governments who must pick up soaring costs of diseases related to obesity.

Since 1970, the number of overweight US children has doubled or even tripled, according to a study by the Institute of Medicine last year. Estimates of obesity among US children range from 15 to 40 per cent. At the same time, there is less sport at school, and more than 40 per cent of schoolchildren have no sport at all, Time magazine reported. Only 6 per cent have sport every day.

An inveterate traveller since he left office, Clinton noted that other countries are also experiencing a similar surge in obesity, including India.

Many Indians have 'abandoned what I think is the most interesting diet in the world' in favour of western foods Clinton said, referring to his preferred traditional food of India.

The new rules are to be in place in 75 per cent of the nation's schools by the beginning of the 2008 school year, with the remaining schools to follow by 2009. Elementary schools are only to sell water and small eight-ounce (0.24 litre) portions of juices with no sugar added, and similar portions of fat free and low fat plain-or- flavoured milk.

Older children in middle school, from grades six to eight, have a little more leeway, with 0.3 litre portions of the same fare.

At the high school level, the portions grow to 0.35 litres, and at least half of all beverages are to be water, no-and-low-calorie selections, with a limit of 100 calories per container.

'This really is a groundbreaking agreement,' said AHA President Robert Eckel.

The deal comes as soft drink companies are fighting to hang on to consumers. The food industry and fast food chains for example invest more than 10 billion dollars on advertising that targets children every year, according to the Institute of Medicine.

Coca-Cola Co, the world's largest maker of soft drinks, has seen earnings drop over the past several quarters and had lowered its sales and earnings outlook for the foreseeable future due to declining sales in North America and Europe and fierce competition from PepsiCo Inc.

Its participation in the school low-calorie programme could also serve the industry's slumping public relations profile, according to comments at the unveiling.

'Our broad product portfolio offers great taste, refreshment, hydration and nutrition,' said Donald Knauss, president of Coca-Cola North America, in a press release published by the Clinton Foundation.

Pepsi Cola and Cadbury Schweppes executives also chimed in their support of a healthy life style and sports for students.

'Limiting calories in schools is a sensible approach that acknowledges our industry's long standing belief that school wellness efforts must focus on teaching kids to consume a balanced diet and be physically active,' said Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association (ABA).

The ABA plans to monitor the percentage of schools under contract with the new guidelines, and make the information publicly available.