How Extensive Is Junk Food Advertising?
In 2006 the NSW Cancer Council found that food advertisers were deliberately targeting children. The Council found 194 separate breaches of the Children’s Television Standards Code of Practice, involving mainly giveaways and prizes. It also found that 81 per cent of food ads shown on commercial TV were for foods that were typically high in fat, sugar or salt and are of low nutritional value, like fast foods, soft drinks and ice creams. Considering that almost 20 per cent of kids aged between 14 and 17 watch four or more hours of television a day, it is little wonder that Australia has the fastest growing rate of childhood obesity in the world. The Australian Institute for Health and Welfare has estimated that if the current trends towards childhood obesity continues, then more than half of Australia’s children will be overweight or obese by 2025. What Is The Federal Government Doing? The short answer is very little. Despite the increase in obesity, the Australian Communications and Med
