Fighting obesity

PepsiCo has decided not to sell high-calorie drinks in schools worldwide by 2012.

The decision to remove sugary drinks from schools in more than 200 countries expands on its 4-year-old U.S. policy.

The move by the world's second-biggest soft-drink maker goes a step further than No. 1 Coca-Cola Co., which this month announced plans to remove sugared drinks in primary schools worldwide.

Pepsi's policy will apply to secondary schools as well. It will offer water, fat-free or low-fat milk and juice with no sugar added in elementary schools. The same products along with low-calorie soft drinks such as Diet Pepsi will be made available in secondary schools.

The World Heart Federation and the Center for Science in the Public Interest praised Pepsi.

The restricted sales policies are aimed at combating childhood obesity and related diseases such as diabetes and heart problems. In themselves, such measures are not the solution, but they can play a role when taken together with increased exercise and a healthy diet.