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The soda agreement announced earlier this month is a step in the right direction.
The new national guidelines agreed to by the American Beverage Association and several soft drink companies are geared to "limit portion sizes and reduce the number of calories available to children during the school day."
KSL joins the chorus of those concerned about the nation's childhood obesity epidemic in shouting hooray!
The number of overweight or at risk children in Utah, alone, could fill 124 elementary schools or 2,067 classrooms. Their condition places them at greater risk down the road for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
So, anything that can be done to encourage healthier lifestyles should be welcomed by the public.
Soft drinks in schools, though, are only part of the problem. A lot of other junk food is still readily accessible in schools and, of course, elsewhere. And kids, as well as their parents, generally don't burn calories through physical activity as much as they should.
Still, the national soda agreement negotiated in part by former President Bill Clinton, a self-proclaimed indulger in overeating, sends a significant message. KSL shares the hope that it accelerates the movement toward healthier living.
