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Public well being specialists are calling for the subsequent Federal Authorities to take motion to cease junk meals adverts concentrating on youngsters, after new analysis confirmed that the problem is a priority for 85% of caregivers.
The brand new examine of virtually 4,000 adults, led by Deakin College and revealed within the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Well being, additionally confirmed that there was a excessive stage of help amongst Australian adults for Authorities initiatives that may assist defend youngsters from unhealthy meals advertising and marketing.
Lead writer Clara Gomez-Donoso from the World Middle for Preventive Well being and Vitamin, Institute for Well being Transformation, Deakin College, says that the analysis supplies a transparent image of Australians’ help for limiting unhealthy meals advertising and marketing throughout various media and settings.
“More than 60% of Australian adults support a ban on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children. Banning unhealthy food advertising on TV before 9pm and removing child-appealing marketing elements like cartoons from unhealthy food packaging are also popular policies, supported by more than half of respondents.”
Senior writer Professor Kathryn Backholer, from Deakin College and Vice President, Coverage on the Public Well being Affiliation of Australia, says that the examine reveals that oldsters have the identical fears as public well being specialists with regards to the best way junk meals firms goal youngsters.
“The results show that Australians are concerned about the current situation when it comes to junk food advertising in Australia—and rightly so. Our children can’t walk to school, go to the shops or sit down and watch TV without being bombarded with unhealthy food advertising and it’s affecting their health. Childhood obesity rates are increasing, while preventable disease in our community continues to grow.”
Adj Prof Terry Slevin, CEO, Public Well being Affiliation of Australia, says that the publication of peer-reviewed tutorial analysis exhibiting that Australian dad and mom are involved about junk meals promoting to youngsters ought to immediate all candidates to contemplate their place forward of the three Could federal election.
“Weight problems in Australia is a public well being ticking timebomb and an enormous problem for our nation. It has not too long ago overtaken tobacco as our largest explanation for preventable illness burden.
“It is early in the election campaign, but already health has been placed as a key election issue. Our question is—when are we going to stop focusing exclusively on health treatment, Medicare, hospitals and urgent care, and do more to keep all Australians, particularly our future generations, healthy and well? That’s why we are asking the next Federal Government to take meaningful action on obesity prevention—including stopping our children’s health being damaged by unhealthy food and drink companies.”
Jane Martin, Government Supervisor Meals for Well being Alliance, additionally referred to as for swift authorities motion.
“The processed food industry has been left to make its own rules for too long, and its actions put corporate profits ahead of children’s health. The sooner government steps in to protect children from the sheer volume of powerful advertising, the sooner we can start to create a healthier environment for our kids to grow up in, improving their diets, health and well-being. We can’t afford to wait,” Martin concluded.
Extra info:
Clara Gomez-Donoso et al, Public help for unhealthy meals advertising and marketing insurance policies in Australia: A cross-sectional evaluation of the Worldwide Meals Coverage Examine 2022, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Well being (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100231
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Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Well being
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Greater than 4 in 5 dad and mom involved about junk meals advertising and marketing in Australia (2025, April 3)
retrieved 4 April 2025
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