Public health advocates are calling for urgent action to address the rising number of Australian children who are skipping fruit and vegetables, as revealed by a recent survey. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey found that the percentage of children consuming the recommended amount of fruit has significantly decreased by 9% over the past five years, dropping from 73% to 64% by 2022. Shockingly, only one in 20 children are consuming the recommended daily serve of vegetables.
The survey also highlighted a concerning trend of children neglecting vegetables in their diet. The proportion of children who do not consume vegetables every day tripled from 1.5% in 2011-12 to 4.5% in 2022. Furthermore, the percentage of children not consuming fruit daily has doubled to nearly 6% during the same period.
Jane Martin, the executive manager of the Food for Health Alliance, which includes Cancer Council Victoria, Deakin University, and VicHealth, emphasized the role played by the marketing of processed foods and sugary drinks in shaping children’s eating habits. Martin asserted that the relentless promotion of unhealthy food on various platforms, such as TV, online, and social media, puts children’s health at risk and has a detrimental impact.
To address the issue, Martin called for the implementation of a levy on sugary drinks and urged the Albanese government to fund and execute the National Obesity Strategy. The federal government had introduced a 10-year plan in the previous year to prevent, reduce, and treat obesity. The strategy aims to reduce the number of overweight and obese children by at least 5% by 2030.
The survey also shed light on the escalating prevalence of overweight or obese adults, rising by 3% over the past decade to nearly 66%. This mirrors the alarming statistic that more than a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese.
Leading health organizations, including the Australian Medical Association, have supported calls for a tax on sugary drinks, recognizing the importance of discouraging their consumption.
The urgent need to tackle childhood obesity in Australia cannot be overstated. It is crucial to address the decline in fruit and vegetable intake among children. Public health advocates are urging policy measures, such as levies on sugary drinks, to counter the influence of the food industry’s marketing strategies. By taking these steps, it is hoped that the wellbeing and future health of Australian children can be prioritized and protected.
