Australian Group Urges Banning Food Ads on TV Shows Aimed at Kids

The Public Health Association of Australia is urging that food advertisements be banned during children's television shows as a way of dealing with the increasing rate of childhood obesity..

Research has found that between 25 and 76 percent of all advertising on children's television programs was for food, and almost always for unhealthy products that are high in fat, sugar and salt, according to Dr. Peter Sainsbury, Association President. Children are more heavily influenced by advertising than adults, resulting in unhealthy eating habits that lead to weight problems.

While a call for a total ban on food advertising for children's programming might seem harsh, Sainsbury believes it is inevitable.

"It might seem like pie in the sky, but… 20 years ago no one would have believed smoking sponsorships would be banned or smoking in public places," he said. "This is an equally big problem and we're going to need to do lots of things to combat it."

A total ban would be easier to regulate than trying to make rulings on what were unhealthy foods, said Sainsbury..

The Association's campaign will involve joining forces with other organizations to pressure the government into adopting such a ban.

Other sources: AAP