Get active: health groups call on Andrews Government to fight childhood obesity

The Andrews Government has been warned it needs to be match fit to beat the emerging childhood obesity crisis — and a coalition of health groups has a plan it says will show the way.

Izzie’s school lunch box is packed with healthy options. Picture: Alex Coppel

A blueprint to reverse the childhood obesity crisis has been laid out by leading health groups in an effort to pressure the Victorian Government into action.

With almost one in four Victorian children now overweight or obese, a coalition of 23 leading health groups will today launch the eight-point plan as a call to action for the Andrews Government.

Including tougher restrictions on unhealthy food and drink advertising to children, an overhaul of school canteens and a statewide campaign to promote healthy food, the push is being backed by groups including the Cancer Council, VicHealth, Diabetes Victoria and the Obesity Policy Coalition.

With the Andrews Government already setting itself the task of reducing Victoria’s obesity levels by 5 per cent by 2025, OPC executive manager Jane Martin said the document provided evidence about what needed to be done.

“We know we have a really serious public health issue, but there are solutions — this is putting the solutions up there and putting the evidence behind them,” she said.

“It is 23 groups getting behind a very strong platform and call to action to provide clarity and to engender that political will.”

Schools have been identified as a major battleground for overcoming the obesity epidemic in the coalition plan, as is cutting into the $45 million spent on junk food advertising children are susceptible to.

As well as calling for bans on unhealthy food advertising and sponsorship in publicly owned and managed places, the blueprints calls for;

COMMUNITY-LED healthy eating and physical activity initiatives focused on areas with the highest rates of obesity;

A STATEWIDE education campaign to encourage healthy eating;

IMPROVING family diets in children’s early years;

SCHOOLS to increase students’ physical activity;

INCREASE compliance with the School Canteens and Other School Food Services Policy;

CREATE a whole-of government healthy food procurement policy; and

DEVELOP a strategy to get Victorians walking more.

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VicHealth acting chief executive officer Dr Lyn Roberts said the experts evidence spelt out significant changes a state government could achieve.

“We have got 23 partners and supporters around this document which gives it a strength and power for us to share with government the eight things we are all committed to and believe the government could do to help deal with the challenge,” Dr Roberts said.

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