2017 media releases

Sugar, Sugar or Honey, Honey? Health Agencies Call for Clearer Labelling of 'Added Sugar'

21 Nov 2017
A coalition of leading health agencies, the Obesity Policy Coalition, has written to the state and territory health ministers who make up the Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation calling on them to urgently adopt a recommendation to identify 'added sugars' on food labels when they meet later this month.

Tipping the Scales: We must halt obesity to save Australian lives

19 Sep 2017
Thirty-four leading community, public health, medical and academic groups have today united for the first time to call for urgent Federal Government action to address Australia's serious obesity problem.

Free toys have powerful influence on what kids want to eat: study

27 Jun 2017
New research from Cancer Council Victoria has revealed what food companies have known for decades – that supplying movie character toys with fast food has an enormous impact on what Aussie kids want to eat.

More than half of foods aimed at kids are unhealthy: research

27 Jun 2017
More than half of supermarket products marketed at kids are unhealthy, new research from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has revealed.

Removing sugary drinks from hospitals, health services a positive step

8 Jun 2017
The Obesity Policy Coalition has applauded the NSW Government for committing to remove all sugary drinks and boost healthy food choices in its hospitals and health services, in a change to take effect from December.

OPC welcomes funding boost for chronic disease and obesity prevention initiatives and research

11 May 2017
The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed the Federal Budget announcement of $10m for research into chronic disease prevention, $10m for walking interventions and $5 million to enable better GP interventions for patients with obesity, but obesity prevention is still incredibly underfunded.

Landmark report sets out ambitious roadmap to tackle obesity and unhealthy diets

20 Feb 2017
A landmark study involving more than 100 nutrition and policy experts from 53 organisations across the country has identified critical action areas for Australian governments to tackle the rise of obesity through unhealthy diets - now one of the leading causes of preventable death and disability in Australia.

4 in 5 Victorians support kilojoules on the menu: survey shows

10 Feb 2017
Leading health organisations have today congratulated the Victorian Government for passing legislation to make kilojoule labelling on menus mandatory, as new data shows the majority of Victorians support the move, along with an education campaign.