Policy group proposes junk food ad ban to tackle childhood obesity
A policy group backed by the World Health Organisation and Diabetes Australia has called for restrictions to be placed on unhealthy foods advertising, which it claims is a cause of childhood obesity.
The group, called the Obesity Policy Coalition, also slammed self-regulation for being “utterly ineffective” in protecting children from junk food advertising.
An ‘evidence-based blueprint’ has been sent to state and federal governments, pushing for new rules to be imposed on TV ads during peak children’s viewing times and the introduction of key marketing definitions, such as ‘unhealthy food’ and advertising ‘directed to children’.
The new rules would, if approved, see junk food advertising banned on TV on weekdays between 6-9am and 4-9pm and weekends and school holidays from 6am-12pm and 4-9pm.
Gotta love this “…without evidence that restrictions actually work” – if it doesn’t work then advertisers have nothing to worry about!
“The system in place gives the public the chance to complain about things it feels aren’t right. And the evidence is that they’re pretty happy with the way things are.” This is not true either – look at the number of complaints that are either dismissed or not even considered. I’d say all this demonstrates is an ineffective system!
Even more talk about fast food advertising causing obesity in chldren! My 7 year old daughter wants almost every thing that she sees advertised on television, whether it’s toys, the latest movie release or fast food (in that order).
IMHO the cause of childhood obesity is due to parent’s inability to say no and be good role models for their kids. I think it’s time they stopped laying the blame on advertisers.
If they REALLY wanted to make an impact on childhood obesity … get kids off their Xboxes, and computers. Kids TV viewing has remained static over the years while the BMI has risen – a negative correlation. Meanwhile, time spent gaming and online has risen sharply, largely at the expense of outdoor activities. It’s pretty obvious even to Blind Freddy what’s going on.
So come on OPC, if you are serious rather than populist, make the call to ban games and internet use for kids under 12. It’s not as popular as a call to ban advertising is it. [Just a thought starter – when WAS the last cigarette ad YOU saw (banned in 1992 – excluding existing sponsorships – so you’d have to be over 20 to remember them).]
So I call on the OPC to release their policy on computer, console and internet usage for kids so that they can at least have a holistic and balanceed approach.
Here we go again.
Misleading research, junk science, a frank admission from the WHO director of no causal linkage, yet still this keeps coming up.
The plan in the UK was deeply flawed and by the same logic, Australia should provide universal healthcare, join the EU, retain Pounds Sterling, etc.
Stu, I’d suggest that based on the 2009 complaints data, with 3,796 complaints (less then .02% of the Australian population), and of which 25% were outside the charter, 1% were withdrawn, 25% were upheld, and 60% were dismissed, that we’re catering extremely well for the vocal minority. And the fact that every fourth ad complained about was upheld shows that the ASB is not scared to pull ads that overstep the line.
When I was 10 (a long time ago) there was one McDonalds in a 10Km radius from home..and the local Westfield had a cafe or two, mostly populated by old ladies eating sandwiches with elegant salads complete with a slice of orange. Move forward 20+ years and Food courts are the norm with all manner of good and bad fare available. increased distribution and a huge shift in attitude to eating whatever and whenever (all the time) is the real culprit…advertising a mere scapegoat.
Comment 6 is on the money.
The restrictive legislation will come anyway…
I agree with this…”The restrictive legislation will come anyway…” we will just wait and see.
They’re not advertising towards children. They’re advertising toward shitty adults.
I’m not a big fan of government or institutions meddling with businesses. Do I like junk food? No, it’s not healthy.
Guess what though? It’s the parents responsibility to feed their kids healthy foods and participate in fun family fitness.
Parents are looked up to by their kids and most of the time will eat what their parents eat. Let’s make vegetables and fruits the norm and not junk food.