Adieu, sugary soft drinks

Non-diet soft drinks will be pulled from the nation's public schools, under an agreement announced earlier this week by former President Bill Clinton and major soft drink distributors.

The agreement aims to stem childhood obesity, which some blame, in part, on children's consumption of sugary soft drinks. Under the agreement, elementary and middle schools will serve only water, unsweetened juice, low-fat milk and non-fat milk. Meanwhile, sports drinks and diet sodas will remain in high schools. The deal will be phased in over three years.

This is obviously a step in the right direction, but nutrition experts say further refinements are needed. Sports drinks and some flavored milks pack a lot calories, although the agreement calls for milk and juice servings to be reduced to 10 ounces.

As for diet sodas, many contain high levels of sodium. While a diet soda may be a better choice than a regular soda, which averages about 150 calories per can, it is still not an optimal selection. Water and low-fat or skim milk are better choices.

But high schools can only control what is offered on campus. Older students are not confined to their campuses as elementary and middle-school students are. Left to their own devices, they might not make the best nutritional choices.

Still, limiting the choices of younger charges may help them develop healthy habits early on, at least as beverage choices are concerned. It also removes schools from the appearance of being hypocrites. Critics often note how contradictory it is for health classes to teach good nutrition while poor nutritional products are being sold just outside the classroom door.

Now, parents, schools and communities must address the other factors associated with childhood obesity. Many school districts have dropped formal physical education programs. Americans in general have an unhealthy reliance on fast food and junk food. Many parents perceive that children are not safe to play outdoors, so they impose limits on play. The health of an entire generation of children depends on addressing these issues.