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Cancer Council SA urges politicians to help fight childhood obesity
With one quarter of Australian children aged between 5 and 17 considered to be overweight or obese, Cancer Council SA (CCSA) is challenging the next State Government take a stand and fight childhood obesity.
As part of its election priorities strategy, CCSA is calling for the Government’s Right Bite program (a healthy eating strategy for schools) to be extended from public schools to include all non-government schools in South Australia. The program’s guidelines have been mandatory in all South Australian government schools since January 2008, however catholic and independent schools are only encouraged to use the Right Bite guidelines. Cancer Council SA Chief Executive Professor Brenda Wilson said the State Government needed to take a strong stand on healthy eating in schools. “With school having gone back this week, we are asking the Government to extend the Right Bite program to non-government schools, as well as enforcing the program in all schools. We are also calling for restrictions on fundraising and sponsorship in schools that promote unhealthy foods.” Professor Wilson said. “Obesity is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability and levels of childhood obesity have risen dramatically. “Children are eating more foods that are high in fat and sugars and are spending much less time doing physical activity and we truly believe that obesity in children is a major health concern not only because of health and social problems in the short-term, but because there is a high risk it will continue into adulthood and affect long-term health.” Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of several cancers including colon, kidney, breast and oesophagus. Professor Wilson also said that children who were overweight or obese were at an increased risk of going on to develop other health conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes. “Healthy eating and a good attitude towards exercise must start at a young age to avoid developing bad habits that last a lifetime.” Professor Wilson said. “To help children along this path, it is imperative that schools provide a healthy environment, actively supporting healthy eating. “The Right Bite program is vital to teach children about what foods are healthy and what foods should be eaten in moderation and we are urging the next State Government to extend it to all South Australian schools – not just government schools.” Professor Wilson said the obesity epidemic was one of the greatest public health challenges confronting Australia. “Australia is one of the most overweight developed nations, with more than half of adults and one in four children overweight or obese.” she said. “To reverse this trend it will be critical for school communities to support initiatives that enable healthy eating. Schools can influence nutrition and physical activity and educate children, their families and the broader community about healthy lifestyles.” The issue of healthy food in schools is one of 12 items identified by Cancer Council SA in its election priorities – a blueprint for the next State Government to reduce the impact of cancer. Professor Wilson said that while we had made great progress in the fight to beat cancer in the past few decades, policy change is crucial to reducing the mortality rate further. “During the term of the next State Government around 36,000 South Australians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer at a cost to the community of nearly $1.5 billion.” she said. “Cancer Council SA is challenging the next State Government to reduce the financial and social burden of cancer on the community by adopting some key policy changes and improvements.” The full election priorities submission is available at www.cancersa.org.au/electionpriorities  Top |
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