Why should sport, recreation and entertainment venues offer healthy foods and drinks?
Your venue can play an important role in promoting healthy messages and is in a position to encourage the community to lead an active lifestyle and support this with healthy eating. Obesity in now recognised as a world wide epidemic. In Western Australia, the number of children who are overweight or obese has tripled over the past two decades1. Almost one quarter of boys and one third of girls aged between 7 – 15 years old are overweight or obese1, placing them at higher risk of a range of diseases including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some cancers2. Overweight and obesity, as well as the related chronic diseases, are largely preventable3. Children and adolescents should eat a wide range of healthy and nutritious foods to give them the energy to grow, learn and play. The foods and drinks on offer at your venue can send clear messages to the community about what is healthy and what options are suitable. Your venue can help to teach children and adolescents how to choose
