Obesity Rates Soar In Australia

[icyfroth]

Obesity rates in Australia and New Zealand have soared by more than 80 per  cent in the past 33 years, the biggest increase in a groundbreaking survey of  almost 200 countries.

The findings, which reveal almost one in three Australians is obese,  intensifies pressure on the government to restrict junk food marketing, restore  the healthy food-star rating system and force companies to cut sugar and fat in  processed food and drink.

Saturating children and adults with junk food advertising, particularly through  sport, means many parents are ''fighting a battle'' against the junk food  industry, Professor Moodie said. ''We have also failed to get anywhere with  front of pack labelling, or with food reformulation, because of huge resistance  from the industry to anything that might improve our health. Only now are people  starting to realise there are 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of coke.''

 http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/obesity-rates-soar-in-australia-a-global-survey-reveals-2014052...

People get obsessed with food. Look how popular those cooking shows are.

[punch*drunk]

They need to stop the likes of McDonalds trying to spring up on just about every street corner and ban them from being anywhere near schools and stop them infiltrating sports with their free vouchers. Kids grow up nowadays with junk food just being part of everyday life rather then an occasional treat and McDonalds, in particular, exploit the kids by bombarding them with in your face advertising and toys in the happy meals.

As a side note, has anyone seen the new happy meal character....lol its so evil looking it may actually scare some kids off from eating that rubbish.

[lurker172602]

Not because of my vanilla slice I hope 🙂

[cherry*135]

Junk food is cheaper than healthy food. After Hockey's budget measures are implemented more people will only be able to low quality food.. White bread, 2 min noodles etc.

[lind9650]

I don't just blame the Fast Food outlets. Did my shopping today and realised the difference in price for bread alone. One loaf of Rye bread $5.70, one loaf of Homebrand white bread $2.60. 1Kg potatoes $3.99 compared with a packet of pasta at $1.29 and so it goes on. Fresh fruit and vegies are expensive as well. I paid for one Avocado $3.90.

Families on low incomes have to make the money stretch to feed hungry children. Usually it is the cheaper items that will fill a few tummies. Nothing of that is healthy or slimming.

Another thing I think is to blame, and that is electronics and the internet. To many adults and children are slouched on the sofa with an electronics gadget instead of being outside in fresh air and doing some walking, kicking a ball around the yard, riding a bike or playing chasey with friends.

Cheap food, lack of excercise, both those factors contribute to obesity as well as junk food.

Erica

[icyfroth]

what happened to backyard vege patch and chook pen?

[purple_haize]

We have a chook pen, and our little girls provide us with plenty of eggs..,.

[lind9650]

Icy, have you seen the size of a block of land nowadays? It's not a quarter acer anymore as the old houseblocks used to be. Hardly any space for a clothes line and nowhere big enough for the children to run around, not talking about chickens or vegie patch.

I had all that when my children were growing up. The same place has now two houses on the same block of land. Times have greatly changed.

Erica

[cherry*135]

Do parents who both work full time, have time to tend a vege garden and chooks? That is if they have a backyard (apartment dwellers don't, townhouses/villas have very small ones).

[fourandsixpants]

vegie patch?

cows don't get fat eating takeaway!

 it's quantity too!

But honestly.....we have been fooled thinking that fat levels in food stuffs is the main/root cause of obesity........

it's sugar. Sugar is added to just about everything these days.....anything processed, including retail breads.

Fructose, naturally found in fruits and some vegies is a form of sugar too which can give you too much sugar-more than you need, especially stone fruits.

Fizzy drinks are a silent killer. Diabeties and weight problems right here. I refused to EVER have this killer in my house.

Only need a few teaspoons of sugar in a 250 ml of water to reach saturation point - beats me how they manage to dissolve equivalent of 12 teaspoons of sugar in a can of cool/fizzy drink. They must be using synthetics and liquid cane sugar.

Lactose found in milk and milk based products....too much will stack the weight on. The calcium that is introduced into milk before marketed to public is not readily absorbed by body.....you need 'chelate/chelated calcium' added for calcium absoption. Obese toddlers could be getting fat on milk products that have no real food value.

Most processed foods sold today are poison to our bodies.