Media releases

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.

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.

As new figures reveal high rates of overweight and obesity right across the country, the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) is calling for a national obesity strategy to address a serious and widespread weight problem.

Australia's independent advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Board (ASB) has found Unilever in breach of the Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative (RCMI) after a complaint by the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) was upheld.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has welcomed a major Grattan Institute report recommending the introduction of a tax on sugary drinks in Australia, which is urgently needed to help curb increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has welcomed The Greens' pledge to introduce a 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks as part of its broader plan to combat Australia's worsening obesity problem.

Food companies who make misleading health claims on children's products have been put on notice today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has welcomed Labor's plan to prevent chronic disease but warns more needs to be done to reduce the impact of obesity.

More than 63 per cent of snack bars on major supermarket shelves do not display the Government-led Health Star Rating System and some manufacturers only use the stars on high-rating products, a new survey from the Obesity Policy Coalition has revealed.

A 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks in Australia could save more than 1,600 lives and raise $400 million per year for much-needed obesity prevention initiatives, new research co-authored by the Obesity Policy Coalition has revealed.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has welcomed the Victorian Government's announcement this morning that it will implement mandatory kilojoule labelling in chain fast food outlets and supermarkets across the state.

Australia's investment in life-saving health promotion programs now lags well behind many other comparable Western countries, public health experts say.

The Federal Government should implement a 20% tax on sugary drinks to improve the health of Australians and reduce the burden of chronic disease, according to Jane Martin, Executive Manager, Obesity Policy Coalition.

A new Obesity Policy Coalition report calls for action to protect children from junk food marketing, as profit-hungry food advertisers exploit loopholes in self-regulatory codes. The report, End the Charade, highlights the failures of self-regulation by the food and advertising industries, exposing sneaky tactics that are resulting in children being bombarded with junk food advertising.

A Fanta television advertisement and mobile phone app have been pulled after the Advertising Standards Board found they broke the rules by directly marketing an unhealthy drink to children.