Sugary drinks to be banned from northern beaches hospitals to stop obesity

In a bid to fight rising obesity rates, Manly and Mona Vale hospitals will ban sugary drinks for patients and staff, encouraging healthier options such as water and tea.

Many fizzy drinks have a high sugar content.

SUGARY drinks will be banned from sale in hospitals on the northern beaches in a bid to fight rising obesity rates.

It’s part of a new campaign to offer more healthy options for patients and staff.

Manly and Mona Vale hospitals have pledged to remove sugary drinks from sale in their vending machines and cafes by the end of the year.

Healthier drink options, such as water, juices with no added sugar, tea, coffee and milk drinks, will be offered throughout the hospital to make up at least 75 per cent of the offering.

Sugary drinks will be banned from hospitals.

General manager of Northern Beaches Health Service Frank Bazik said Manly and Mona Vale hospitals want to send a clear message about healthy eating and drinking.

“Our doctors, nurses and allied health professionals advise against consuming sugary drinks without nutritional value and phasing them out by the end of the year is a great step in the right direction,” Mr Bazik said.

The policy is being rolled out across NSW, and it will be the first state in Australia to remove sugary drinks from its health facilities.

One in two adults and more than one in five children in NSW are overweight or obese.

“There is a strong link between the consumption of sugary drinks, obesity and related diseases,” Mr Bazik said.

A diet with a high sugar content is linked to obesity.

“As health leaders it is important we set the right example.”

Bosses at the new Northern Beaches Hospital, said when it opens next year, it will also follow a healthy approach by producing healthy drinks and freshly cooked seasonal food.

“Having a full production kitchen in the hospital producing fresh cook food will help us provide quality, delicious seasonal menus,” a Northern Beaches Hospital spokesman said.