World Obesity Federation backs AMA’s call for ban on junk food ads

The World Obesity Federation has commended the AMA for its call on a ban on junk food advertising to children during the day.

The outgoing head of the World Obesity Federation, Professor Louise Baur, told ABC Radio National it was “tremendous” of the AMA to call for a digital black-out on junk food advertising with heavy restrictions on television advertising, sponsorship and new promotion and placement rules in the retail sector.

“It’s tremendous for the AMA to call for that and a range of forms of regulation of food marketing. We have been asking for this for decades and yet sophistication of marketing has grown and the ability to regulate it has become more difficult.”

The AMA made a recent submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care calling for restrictions on unhealthy food sponsorship of sports, arts and cultural events.

AMA President Professor Steve Robson said an online marketing ban would help establish healthy food consumption habits from a young age.

“Limiting junk food advertisements and marketing is about nurturing health in our children, providing them with the opportunity to make healthy choices well into adulthood,” he said.