[Greens-Media] Rees must respond to obesity explosion with junk food advertising ban

[John Kaye]

Rees must respond to obesity explosion with junk food advertising ban

Media release: 11 October 2008

The Greens are calling on the NSW government to follow Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in moving to ban junk food advertising during children's prime time TV. It is an essential step in countering the loss of life expectancy caused by increasing weight gains and obesity amongst younger people.

Commenting on research by Professor D'Arcy Holman of the University of Western Australia ('Obesity weighing on children's lives' p.6, today's Sydney Morning Herald), Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "Premier Rees can no longer ignore the evidence. He must use his constitutional powers to ban TV advertising of unhealthy foods during the children's peak times. 

"The rate at which people are putting on weight could reduce average life expectancy by two years. Obese people can expect to die four years earlier.

"Almost one third of young Australians are carrying too much fat and they have a 78 per cent greater chance of becoming overweight adults and dying younger.

"The link between exposure to junk food commercials and childhood weight gains and obesity is also unequivocally proven. 

"Between 55 and 81 percent of food advertisements shown during children's viewing time over the last 10 years are for unhealthy foods of low nutritional value such as confectionery, sweetened breakfast cereals and fast food.

"Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is moving towards a junk food TV ad ban. 

"This is about protecting the future of the young people of NSW who are subjected to a deluge of targeted advertisements promoting unhealthy, energy-dense and fatty foods.

"The Rudd government has buckled to pressure from the advertising industry.  It has been left to the premiers to use their constitutional powers to ban junk food commercials on a state-by-state basis.

"While nation-wide rules would be preferable, the political power of food industry killed federal moves to protect kids.

"It is time for Premier Rees to get on board with Anna Bligh to fill the gap left by Kevin's Rudd's failure to stop a decline in life expectancy," Dr Kaye said. 

For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455