Childhood Obesity Is A Real Problem That Deserves Real Funding
AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that the health of Australian children has been compromised by the Government's decision to accept $1million for research into childhood obesity from the same body that represents manufacturers responsible for exposing young children to 77 junk food advertisements during prime time television each week.
Dr Haikerwal's comments came after the Federal Government announced yesterday that the Australian Food and Grocery Council along with the Departments of Health and Ageing and Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, have contributed $1 million each to the joint project, Measuring Australia's Eating Habits and Physical Activity, an information collecting exercise designed initially to help combat increasing levels of obesity among Australian children.
At the same time, a new study released yesterday, adds weight to the AMA's concerns that Australian children are exposed to an unprecedented and increasing number of junk food ads during prime time television.
The AMA, as a member of the Coalition Against Food Advertising to Children, has long been calling for a ban on junk food advertising to children.
"We're seeing a sharp rise in the rate of obesity related disease in children. Diseases seen in overweight middle aged people like type 2 diabetes, liver complaints, heart disease and high blood pressure are emerging in children and teenagers," Dr Haikerwal said.
"A better understanding of people's eating and exercise habits will help in the fight against obesity.
"But we need a long term commitment to the collection of good data - research free of pressures imposed by the interests of big business.
"The involvement of the food industry in this data collection exercise could compromise the interpretation of the survey results and subsequent recommendations, allowing the industry to better target food advertising at children.
"With the Federal Treasurer taking an interest in preventive medicine, it would have been more appropriate for him to lead the debate and fund the study.
"We must ensure the health of all Australians is at the heart of any such initiative. These are urgent issues that deserve an uncompromised solution," Dr Haikerwal said.
14 September 2005
CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306