Kids heading back to school bombarded by sugar fix ads, Cancer Council warns

Students heading back to school today face sugar-loaded ads where the state government profits – Cancer Council SA is saying this sugar is not so sweet for young bodies.

Children heading back to school today are being bombarded with ads for junk food filling state government coffers along the way, prompting a Cancer Council SA demand for change.

New data shows almost 80 per cent of food and drink advertisements children will see on their way to school in SA promote high-sugar junk food.

The study checked advertising on government-owned public transport assets, such as buses and bus shelters, within 500m of 65 South Australian public schools.

Of the 253 advertisements related to food or drink, almost 80 per cent were junk food advertisements.

Amy and Matt Graham with their children (LtoR) Darcy, 5, Flynn 17 months, Paige, 11, and Blake, 10 enjoy eating healthy food. Picture Dean Martin

In SA, government owned assets such as bus stops and buses have no restrictions on the types of food and drink advertising that can be shown on them.

Cancer Council SA prevention and advocacy manager Christine Morris said the data is consistent with similar studies in NSW and WA.

“Evidence shows junk food ads make it difficult to build healthy eating habits in children, which can lead to health impacts later in life,” she said.

“We really empathise with parents, as we know that when kids are bombarded with junk food ads, it’s really hard for parents to help their children make healthy choices.

“We have seen encouraging results from international studies that have shown that banning junk food advertising can help to reduce junk food consumption among young people.

“We have also seen restrictions announced in Queensland, WA and the ACT, where junk food and alcohol ads have been restricted on buses since 2015.

“We want to see similar restrictions in place here to help give South Australian kids the best start they can in life and support parents and children to make healthy lifestyle choices.”

Cancer Council SA notes evidence shows regular consumption of junk food is associated with long-term weight gain and being overweight or obese can lead to health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and various types of cancer.

Mother of four, Amy Graham has noticed junk food advertisements on bus shelters near her children’s school. She is concerned about how exposure to these ads will impact her children’s food habits in adulthood.

“When they finish school or an after-school sport and are hungry, I don’t want junk food to be the first thing they think about,” she said.

“They get in the car and ask if they can have what they have seen on a poster rather than the healthy snacks or meal I’ve made at home.

“I am concerned that these ads don’t really provide the whole picture or promote the idea of a balanced diet, and if this is all that kids are seeing, we have a real battle to advocate for them to eat healthy foods.”