Schools To Be Fizzy-Drink Free In Five Years

[Jai Dee]

Schools to be fizzy-drink free in five years

Over 600 schools have volunteered to ban the sale of carbonated soft-drinks in schools in an attempt to fight childhood obesity and promote better dental health care.

Reports suggest that Thailand has more overweight schoolchildren than anywhere else in Asia, with 13 per cent of them – almost doubling the average figure - found to be heavier than their peers across the region. Only the US and Australia have higher proportions of children with obesity, said senior public health officials.

Over 600 schools in 34 provinces would work with the Public Health Ministry and the Health Promotion Fund in a campaign to raise awareness about possible dangers of eating sweet food, sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks.

Dr Narongsakdi Aungkhasuvapala, director-general of the Health Department, said childhood obesity had to be taken seriously because long-term health problems could increase exponentially as obese and overweight people tend to develop serious illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and kidney malfunction later in life.

The health department chief said a ban on sugary drinks and junk food in schools was necessary given the size of the problem. High-calorie, high-sugar soft drinks would be phased out from canteens and vending machines at government schools participating in the campaign.

It was expected they would be able to implement the voluntary campaign in all schools across the country within five years.

Dr Chantana Ungchusak from the Health Promotion Fund said that surveys found kindergarten and primary school children ate snacks and confectionary at "alarming" levels. Snacks and soft-drinks have become a main source of energy for young people, providing 27 per cent of daily energy intake which is far exceeding the recommended level.

A related problem, tooth decay in young children is likewise reported to be on the rise, she added.

Source: TNA - 20 February 2007

[richard10365]

Once they help the fat little kids they need to help the fat teachers as well. A mandatory effective physical education course would help as well.

Still though, you have to question the validity of the report. More fat kids than anywhere in Asia is kinda of a broad statement since China has over 2 billion people and India has over a billion. Thailand only has about 70 million people. It's hard to believe Thailand has the most fat kids.

Sure Thailand has fat kids, but the reason for making them healthy doesn't have to be inflated as well.

I wonder where they get their senior public health officials from and what do they weigh?

[Ijustwannateach]

It'll be a difficult project, politically- I don't think it can be done. There are concessions granted (probably for a good deal of tea money) to the school shop locations, plus there are mobile vendors inside and outside the schools, convenience stores, etc., etc., and all this within a minute's walk of the front gate if not inside our school itself. 90% of it is junk and sugar.

"Steven"

[Maxwell Book]

This sounds like a good idea. Why is it going to take 5 years to implement? Something like this could be done rather quickly, by the next school term.

From what I've observed, Thais eat lots of fresh fruits, and vegetables are part of their major dishes. Problems arise when they sprinkle sugar on everything, like on the pai Thai noodles.

[ColPyat]

This sounds like a good idea. Why is it going to take 5 years to implement?

Because you show your good intentions of responsible governance, and after the deadline has passed, and nothing has changed, nobody will remember your policies from 5 years ago.

[sriracha john]

Schools to be fizzy-drink free in five years

Over 600 schools have volunteered to ban the sale of carbonated soft-drinks in schools in an attempt to fight childhood obesity and promote better dental health care.

Reports suggest that Thailand has more overweight schoolchildren than anywhere else in Asia, with 13 per cent of them – almost doubling the average figure - found to be heavier than their peers across the region. Only the US and Australia have higher proportions of children with obesity, said senior public health officials.

Over 600 schools in 34 provinces would work with the Public Health Ministry and the Health Promotion Fund in a campaign to raise awareness about possible dangers of eating sweet food, sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks.

Dr Narongsakdi Aungkhasuvapala, director-general of the Health Department, said childhood obesity had to be taken seriously because long-term health problems could increase exponentially as obese and overweight people tend to develop serious illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and kidney malfunction later in life.

The health department chief said a ban on sugary drinks and junk food in schools was necessary given the size of the problem. High-calorie, high-sugar soft drinks would be phased out from canteens and vending machines at government schools participating in the campaign.

It was expected they would be able to implement the voluntary campaign in all schools across the country within five years.

Dr Chantana Ungchusak from the Health Promotion Fund said that surveys found kindergarten and primary school children ate snacks and confectionary at "alarming" levels. Snacks and soft-drinks have become a main source of energy for young people, providing 27 per cent of daily energy intake which is far exceeding the recommended level.

A related problem, tooth decay in young children is likewise reported to be on the rise, she added.

Source: TNA - 20 February 2007

Schools announce a tongue-twister contest

The Education Ministry, in cooperation with the Health Promotion Fund, announced today a competition involving the tongue-twister "Fizzy-Drink Free." All students who can successfully say the phrase ten times real fast without slipping up will be awarded a container of pure apple juice.

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

Light-hearted News Section

[richard10365]

Schools to be fizzy-drink free in five years

Over 600 schools have volunteered to ban the sale of carbonated soft-drinks in schools in an attempt to fight childhood obesity and promote better dental health care.

Reports suggest that Thailand has more overweight schoolchildren than anywhere else in Asia, with 13 per cent of them – almost doubling the average figure - found to be heavier than their peers across the region. Only the US and Australia have higher proportions of children with obesity, said senior public health officials.

Over 600 schools in 34 provinces would work with the Public Health Ministry and the Health Promotion Fund in a campaign to raise awareness about possible dangers of eating sweet food, sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks.

Dr Narongsakdi Aungkhasuvapala, director-general of the Health Department, said childhood obesity had to be taken seriously because long-term health problems could increase exponentially as obese and overweight people tend to develop serious illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and kidney malfunction later in life.

The health department chief said a ban on sugary drinks and junk food in schools was necessary given the size of the problem. High-calorie, high-sugar soft drinks would be phased out from canteens and vending machines at government schools participating in the campaign.

It was expected they would be able to implement the voluntary campaign in all schools across the country within five years.

Dr Chantana Ungchusak from the Health Promotion Fund said that surveys found kindergarten and primary school children ate snacks and confectionary at "alarming" levels. Snacks and soft-drinks have become a main source of energy for young people, providing 27 per cent of daily energy intake which is far exceeding the recommended level.

A related problem, tooth decay in young children is likewise reported to be on the rise, she added.

Source: TNA - 20 February 2007

Schools announce a tongue-twister contest

The Education Ministry, in cooperation with the Health Promotion Fund, announced today a competition involving the tongue-twister "Fizzy-Drink Free." All students who can successfully say the phrase ten times real fast without slipping up will be awarded a container of pure apple juice.

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

Light-hearted News Section

Ok, ok.....enough is enough. I think it's time to move this topic to where it belongs. The "Jokes - puzzles and riddles - make my day!" section of Thai visa. Seems like much of the news involving the current government should be there.

[solo siam]

Once they help the fat little kids they need to help the fat teachers as well. A mandatory effective physical education course would help as well.

Still though, you have to question the validity of the report. More fat kids than anywhere in Asia is kinda of a broad statement since China has over 2 billion people and India has over a billion. Thailand only has about 70 million people. It's hard to believe Thailand has the most fat kids.

Sure Thailand has fat kids, but the reason for making them healthy doesn't have to be inflated as well.

I wonder where they get their senior public health officials from and what do they weigh?

Did you not see the percentage quoted?

[spot]

If a new visa policy can be implemented and enforced within a couple of months, why does it take 5 years to make schools fizzy drink free?

The problem is more than fizzy drinks...

Mountains of sugar seems to be in everything.

Food producers have blatantly put unhealthy amounts of sugar in foods for years.

Who lets them get away with it.....?

[astral]

Why wait 5 years and damage another generation of school children............

START TODAY

[ronw]

If a new visa policy can be implemented and enforced within a couple of months, why does it take 5 years to make schools fizzy drink free?

The problem is more than fizzy drinks...

Mountains of sugar seems to be in everything.

Food producers have blatantly put unhealthy amounts of sugar in foods for years.

Who lets them get away with it.....?

One answer to that would be for a government to slap a swingeing tax on sugar content....rising exponentially....or even faster....eg one percent sugar.....ten percent tax

two percent sugar.....fifty percent tax etc...

three..................and so on

[spot]

Since my wife got pregnant, I've been looking at the food packets more.

Yesterday we went to shopping at Tesco's and I was shocked at the amount of sugar in everyday food. It took us ages to find a so called 'healthy' ginger drink that didn't have mounds of sugar in it. Other things such as 'healthy cereal mix' had 20% sugar! Shame on you Tesco..

The problem is the general acceptance of lots of sugar in food.

If the Government really cares, then it should ban unhealthy amounts of sugar in school food/drink NOW.... then start working on the food makers asap.

[faranggl]

It won't be long before these poor soda slurpping kids are having to scrounge up tea money to beat a controlled substance citation. Next the government will probably tell them smoking and drinking are bad. The dental pacs will quietly squash this idea.

[TAWP]

The only thing the goverment needs to do is to remove the artificially low price (due to regulations) on the domestic sugar.

If people had to pay what it really should cost, without any added taxes, things would have to change.