Australia: lobby against junk food ads

According to the online agency "confectionerynews.com", two of Australia’s leading health bodies say the government should introduce stronger regulation to restrict junk food advertising and improve education about proper nutrition to fight the alarming rise in childhood obesity. The Victorian arms of Diabetes Australia and The Cancer Council said in a joint statement issued on Sunday that they supported last week s decision by education minister Lynne Kosky to ban sugar-laden and carbonated drinks in Victorian schools later this year.
But they want to see this ban widened to other unhealthy products as well as further action from regional and state government to restrict the marketing of junk foods to children.


Approximately 10% of Australian children were overweight or obese in 1985 but this figure has risen to around 30% in 2005, show official statistics. And experts estimate that by 2025 nearly half of all children will be overweight or obese. Obesity significantly raises the risk of serious conditions like diabetes, cancer and heart disease.