The modern era has produced only a handful of larger-than-life political figures. Fewer still attained that status after breaking ethnic, racial or gender barriers.

Among them is Margaret Thatcher, who died in London Monday from a stroke. She was 87.

Thatcher rose from the daughter of a grocer to become a chemist, a tax lawyer, a member of Parliament, education minister and, finally, Britain’s first (and only) female prime minister at a crucial moment in world history.

Together, she and her friend Ronald Reagan steered the world’s leading democracies through the tumultuous 1980s.

The Iron Lady — a moniker first written in a Soviet propaganda publication — led her nation through a war with Argentina, the bloody conflict in Northern Ireland and economic upheaval in Britain.

As with nearly any strong-willed leader, she made enemies along the way, in part for her uncompromising positions.

In a 1980 speech she said, “To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the ‘U’ turn, I have only one thing to say. ‘You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.’ ”

A decade later, commenting on ideas for European unity to the House of Commons, Thatcher famously declared, “No. No. No.” Today, her trepidation about unity is seen by some as prescience.

History will dutifully record the criticism of her policies. Unions especially will seethe over her hard line with organized labor, but that will be a footnote.

The dominant theme will be the Iron Lady’s strength of conviction, devotion to liberty and love of country.

— Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel

Programs encouraging teenagers to develop healthy eating habits have popped up all over the country in recent years: “Project EAT (Eating Among Teens”), “Eat, Think and Be Active!” and “The Power of Choice: Helping Youth Make Healthy Eating and Fitness Decisions,” to name a few.

They don’t seem to be helping. A five-year study by the University of Oklahoma’s School of Public Health shows 80 percent of U.S. teens are eating their way to heart disease. Looking at more than 5,000 teens, the study found less than 1 percent of those surveyed ate a diet considered ideal for preventing cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association, which published the study, called the results “unacceptably high.”

No kidding.

The Heart Association leadership calls for “broad social and cultural changes” as the only way to keep the United States from ever-increasing health care costs as today’s teens become tomorrow’s middle-aged adults. The association has set a goal of reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent by 2020. It will be a stretch.

Just slowing the growth of obesity would be significant. But, so far, nobody has figured out how to get teenagers to exercise regularly — even a brisk walk a day would do wonders — and replace fast food, pizza and soft drinks with fruit, vegetables and whole grains, at least most of the time. All the health insurance reform in the world won’t bring down health care costs if America’s teens — not to mention their parents — don’t take better care of themselves.

— San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News