The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed the Queensland Government’s move to ban junk food promotions on all Government-owned advertising spaces.
Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the OPC, said the move signalled a key step towards reducing the state’s childhood obesity rates and improving diets.
“Children are constantly bombarded with junk food ads on their walks to school, while they wait for the bus, and even at their local community centre. It influences what they eat, what they want to eat, and what they pester their parents for.”
“These brands spend millions of dollars plastering their unhealthy products all over these settings because they know it works. It’s great to see the Queensland Government acknowledging the pervasive influence this type of marketing has on children and putting a stop to it.”
“A quarter of Queensland’s children are overweight and obese, this is having a devastating impact on families as well as health services. Today’s announcement demonstrates a willingness to protect the health of Queensland’s children above the profits of junk food companies.”
“Governments have control on what goes on the side of bus stops and train stations, this is one simple and effective measure that we would like to see rolled out across Australia to protect children from obesity and chronic disease.”