Greens leader Bob Brown’s proposed ban on junk food advertising to children could prevent thousands of cancer deaths and should be supported by both houses of federal Parliament, The Cancer Council Australia said today.
Cancer Council Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said the unprecedented increase in childhood and adolescent obesity threatened a blow-out in future cancer burden at a time when Australia’s health services would already be stretched by population ageing.
“Obesity is a leading cause of cancer, and obesity in childhood and adolescence leads to a high probability of obesity in adulthood and therefore significantly elevated cancer risk,” Professor Olver said.
“Measures to reduce obesity by encouraging improved nutrition and physical activity can only reach their potential if they are not competing with sophisticated, big-budget commercial campaigns continually encouraging unhealthy food choices.
“Evidence from overseas indicates food advertising reform works, while modelling in Australia shows ad bans in children’s viewing times would be by far the most cost-effective measure to reduce childhood obesity.”
Professor Olver said the Australian Greens should be applauded for showing leadership by promoting an amendment to communications legislation banning junk food ads during children’s TV.
“For the amendment to be passed, it would require majority support in both houses of Parliament,” he said. “Childhood obesity, and its serious potential to cause cancer in adulthood, should be above partisan politics. There is enough evidence to support Senator Brown’s bill.”
Professor Olver said South Australia had already committed to a state-based junk food ad ban and that other jurisdictions might follow.
“With the Rudd Government promoting a new era of federal-state co-operation that includes preventative healthcare as a priority, it is time for a uniform, national approach to food marketing reform that recognises the threat posed by childhood obesity,” he said.
“Thirty years ago advertising reform was the centrepiece of Australia’s success in reducing the harms of smoking, but thousands of Australians died prematurely while health advocates sought policy change.”
Media contacts:
Paul Grogan, 0409 456 727; paul.grogan@cancer.org.au
Glen Turner, 0412 443 212; glen.turner@cancer.org.au