Media releases

Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) welcomes the Victorian Government's Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures action plan, announced today by the Minister of Health.

Obesity is now set to overtake tobacco as the leading risk factor contributing to disease burden in Australia, according to a new report released this week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

New research published today by CHOICE has revealed many toddler snack products are packed with harmful sugars, are highly processed and often what's contained in the pack bears little resemblance to what's promised on the label.

Executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition Jane Martin welcomed the AMA's calls today, urging the Australian Government to follow one of the 45 jurisdictions around the world that have already introduced a levy, which has seen a reduction in consumption of sugary drinks and in some cases, reformulation of drinks.

The Australian Government is redesigning our food regulatory system for Australia and New Zealand. This will set the foundation for how food is made, sold and marketed long into the future.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed today's commitment by the UK Government to stop the processed food industry from targeting children with a total ban of unhealthy food advertisements online and prior to 9pm on TV, and is urging the Australian Government to follow suit.

New research has revealed that advertising spend on sugary drinks is almost double the spend on all other drink options combined, contradicting the beverage industry's own rhetoric and sales data that shows consumer preference for low and no added sugar drink options.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has released 'Brands off our kids!', a report highlighting the tactics used by the processed food industry to target children with unhealthy food marketing and calling on government to set higher standards and stop the processed food industry setting its own rules.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed the decision by the Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum), to ensure the Health Star Rating on fruit juice accurately reflects its sugar content and is consistent with Australian Dietary Guidelines advice to limit fruit juice consumption because of its high energy density and low fibre content.

Consultation documents released today show support for more significant action by governments to empower Australians to live healthy and active lives as part of a National Obesity Strategy (NOS).

Australia is falling behind the rest of the world in protecting kids from predatory digital marketing of harmful products like alcohol, unhealthy food and gambling, according to a new report released today.

Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition has called for an accelerated approach in progressing a national obesity strategy in order to tackle Australia's poor diets and spiralling obesity epidemic.

Processed baby foods that are high in added sugar from concentrated fruit ingredients are being marketed as healthy, posing a health risk to infants a new study has found.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has condemned the dismissal by the Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) of the recommendation to lower the health star rating for some packaged foods, to more accurately penalise sugar and salt.

As food ministers meet later this week to discuss Australia's Health Star Rating system, a new survey has found three in four Australians want the Government to mandate health stars being displayed on the front of all packaged food and drinks.