A growing number of children are suffering from overweight and obesity at ever younger ages. This is supported by recent research into childhood obesity. This problem is not specific to Australia but applies to many countries worldwide. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that in the last few days there has been increased media surrounding the push for a voluntary code of practice to reduce the marketing of unhealthy food to children.

This campaign is supported by consumer groups worldwide and is pushing for restrictions on television and internet advertising as well as a ban on unhealthy food promotion in schools.

This campaign raises many interesting questions into the cause of obesity and specifically childhood obesity. There is no doubt that advertising and availability of ‘unhealthy’ foods contribute to this issue. However, on the flip side, everyone is exposed to this yet only ~60% of the adult population are overweight or obese. This means that the other 40% of the population are not being affected adversely by this advertising and food availability. Additionally, the traditional supply and demand model applies. If people did not buy the ‘unhealthy’ food then the availability would be reduced.

My feeling is that the most effective means of improving the obesity issue for both adults and children is through education. It is difficult to make the right dietary and physical activity decisions without having adequate information. Maintaining a healthy weight requires the application of simple nutritional principles however there are so many nutritional myths out there that it can become confusing about what is right and what is wrong. The education of adults on nutrition and physical activity would assist both them and their children to eat better, and hopefully undertake regular exercises. To then couple this with school based education programs where children are being informed of the importance of physical activity and appropriate nutrition would assist them in taking some control but also applying healthy lifestyle principles at a younger age.
I am not saying that advertising and promotion of unhealthy food options is okay; I simply feel that there is far more to this worldwide problem and it needs to be addressed from many angles with the focus on giving people the knowledge to make the correct decisions themselves.