IT was the central strategy in Queensland’s battle of the bulge – 
during children’s TV viewing times.But three years on from the Premier’s promise, the Government has failed to act and new evidence shows Queensland kids continue to pack on the kilos.
State politicians were briefed this week at a breakfast about the clear links between advertising and children’s obesity.
At the forum organised by the Heart Foundation, MPs were shown research linking more than 25 per cent of cases of overweight and obese children to television advertising.
The research found more than 10 per cent of Australian childhood obesity was linked to junk food ads compared with 6 per cent or less in Sweden, New Zealand and the United Kingdom which have tackled the issue to varying degrees.
The LNP’s Lawrence Springborg said the Government’s failure to tackle a future health epidemic proved it was “as mobile as frozen jello”.
“How many kids have been impacted with life changing obesity problems in the three years since this Government promised to do something?” Mr Springborg said.
Public health expert Lennert Veerman, who addressed the MPs’ forum, said the Bligh Government needed to act.
Dr Veerman said between 5 and 40 per cent of children’s obesity cases could be reduced if junk food ads were banned.
“For the food industry, if the children don’t eat junk food they will eat something else so there really is no loss for the industry overall,” he said.
RAJ REPORT 
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