The Turkish Ministry of Health has banned sale of cola drinks and fast food items like hamburgers at school cafeterias to ward off obesity in children.
“Obesity has turned into an epidemic over the last 10 to 15 years. First we need to stop this epidemic and then reverse it,” Health Minister Recep Akdag told the Anadolu Agency.
Akdag said the government’s program to fight obesity was expected to yield significant results within the next four years, adding that a major progress would be made by 2023.
“We are planning to reduce obesity from a current 33 percent to below 30 percent in 4 years,” he said.
The ban begins with 2011-2012 school year. (Anatolian News Agency)