Thai schools ban soft drinks to fight obesity

February 26, 2007

BANGKOK - Some 600 primary schools across Thailand have vowed to ban sugary drinks from the playground and classroom in an effort to curb soaring child obesity rates in the kingdom.

Tens of thousands of children across the country will be without their lemonade and cola under the voluntary measures, introduced as part of the government's sugar reduction campaign.

Chantana Ungchusak, a dentist in charge of the campaign, said the project aimed to educate children from kindergarten up to primary school about limiting their sugar consumption.

"Thai kids now are facing obesity and tooth cavities because they eat fast food," Chantana told AFP.

Chantana said in a recent survey she carried out found that Thai children were consuming an average 20 teaspoons of sugar a day, when they should be limiting their intake to six a day.

All that sugar -- on top of the increase in Western fast food restaurants -- has led to both children and adults piling on the pounds in a country traditionally known for its slim population.

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