Editorial: Soda gets failing grade

Saturday, May 6, 2006 | 7:44 a.m.

The country's largest soft-drink companies, in an agreement struck with the William J. Clinton Foundation, say they will stop selling sugar-laden soda to those public schools that still allow soda to be sold on their campuses.

Specifically, the soft-drink companies will remove soda, diet soda, sports drinks and apple and grape juice from elementary and middle schools. Water and healthier juices such as orange juice still would be sold in smaller containers. Although sodas with sugar will not be sold to high schools, the soft-drink companies will continue to supply high schools - at least to those that will allow it - with diet soda, diet lemonade and diet iced tea.

The soft-drink companies have been under fire to take such action - the threat of litigation by public health interest groups reportedly played a role in the beverage makers' decision - and it should have been done much sooner. Nonetheless, it is good to see the industry do something that could play a part in reducing childhood obesity rates.

American adults are becoming more aware of the dangers that being overweight pose for children. Of course, drink manufacturers are only a small part of the problem.

Schools have long shouldered some blame for fast-expanding student waistlines, and the Clark County School District reacted in 2004 by deciding to pull soda from schools. The Nevada Board of Education voted last year to make a similar ban effective statewide in the coming school year.

In addition, schools should do a better job of teaching children about nutrition and exercise and then practice what they preach with healthier menus and a real commitment to effective physical education.

But schools are only a part of the problem. Schools are under pressure to teach children more than they have time to teach, and physical and health education often suffer as a result.

As much as the public harps on schools, let's not forget that parents play the central role in their children's health. Parents are the ones responsible for what is in lunchboxes and on dinner tables, for turning off the television, and for either goading their kids into physical activity or showing them that exercise can be rewarding - and fun.

Drink makers and schools can only do so much to stem the epidemic of childhood obesity. The ultimate responsibility resides in each household.