2007 Apr - Jun News Archive

The bitter sweet truth

While we're fighting fat to combat obesity, the sugar content of some basic grocery items has quietly climbed over the past 20 years, in line with our waistlines. More...

Eat healthy and stay up later: Kewell

Australia's ambassador for healthy and active living, soccer star Harry Kewell, believes kids should be allowed to stay up later at night if they keep healthy. More...

Concerns over childhood obesity: study

New research has found doctors are missing a vital opportunity to combat the obesity epidemic, a leading paediatrician says. More...

Labeling Children Obese When They Enter School Is A Flawed Approach To Dealing With Obesity Epidemic

Internationally recognised expert in children's learning, Professor Brian Cambourne, today warned that labelling children obese when they start school could be a highly damaging step. More...

Teens in obesity danger zone

Adolescence is emerging as the transition period from fit to fat for half of all boys and more than one-quarter of girls. More...

Parents call for fat free labelling restrictions

Australian parents are calling on government and food manufacturers to restrict ‘fat free’ claims on food labels to be used only on products which are low in kilojoules and sugar.Results from a national survey released today by The Parents Jury revealed that 95 percent of parents surveyed felt that fat free claims on high sugar confectionery and snack foods are misleading. More...

Health spending criticised

Health groups have condemned a federal Budget they say falls short in almost all key areas. The Australian Medical Association said not enough money was provided for indigenous health, aged care, obesity, rural health, dental care, chronic disease, and after-hours GP services. More...

McDonald's unveils global 'Shrek' promotion

After nearly two years of hype and months of criticism from watchdog groups, McDonald's Corp. on Tuesday unveiled details of its promotional deal with DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third," calling the global effort its "biggest-ever" for apples and milk and a launching pad for its children's marketing platform. More...

Obesity test plan for children

All year 5 students would be weighed and measured under a Federal Government proposal to combat child obesity. Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop will ask the states for feedback on the tests today at the national meeting of education ministers. The proposed tests would check the weight, height, fitness and body mass index of year 5 students across the country. More...

Teens in obesity danger zone

Adolescence is emerging as the transition period from fit to fat for half of all boys and more than one-quarter of girls. While diet and exercise messages have targeted young children, a national obesity study shows many healthy youngsters will have piled on the kilograms by adulthood. The survey recorded the body mass index of 4500 children in 1985 and followed them up again between 2001 and 2005. More...

Votes in for healthiest lunchboxes

Healthy bread wraps are winners in kids' lunch boxes, while chocolate spread sandwiches and chips are losers, according to a recent poll by The Parents Jury. More...

TV Food Ads: Educate and Advocate

The Centre for Health Promotion, Children Youth and Women's Health Service, Adelaide, in collaboration with teachers and the Coalition on Food Advertising to Children, has produced a new resource for primary schools - ‘TV Food Ads: Educate and Advocate'. More...

Doing it for the kids

Everyone, it seems, has a theory about how to overcome childhood obesity. But, Melissa Sweet argues, it's time those with a vested interest stopped playing the blame game. More...

Health spending criticised

Health groups have condemned a federal Budget they say falls short in almost all key areas. The Australian Medical Association said not enough money was provided for indigenous health, aged care, obesity, rural health, dental care, chronic disease, and after-hours GP services. More...

ALP plans childhood obesity check-ups

Children would be checked for obesity under a Rudd Labor plan to introduce a national scheme of health and development tests for all school starters. More...

Compulsory sport to tackle childhood obesity

School children in Western Australia are being made to participate in traditional Australian sports such as cricket as part of a campaign to tackle obesity. More...

Do your kids receive spam email from food companies?

If your kids have received spam email from food companies marketing their unhealthy products, we want to hear from you. These companies may be breaching the Spam Act or the Privacy Act. We can make a complaint on your behalf. More...

Children's TV heavy with junk food

In the first Australian study of its kind, University of Sydney researchers have found two-thirds of advertisements during children's high-rating television programs promote junk food. More...

The obesity pandemic: a brilliant test of political capability

Reflecting on the federal government’s implicit obesity strategy - most clearly revealed in the ongoing debate over whether to regulate advertising of junk food to children - of advocating personal responsibility, one might wonder why we would expect any progress on the obesity epidemic at all. More...

Junk Food Injunction Newsletter

Newsletter from the Cancer Council NSW. The aim of the newsletter is to keep you informed about food marketing to children and its impact on children’s health. More...