19 June 2023

Paediatricians and physicians from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) are launching a high-profile campaign to crackdown on junk food advertising, as 1 in 4 children in Australia live with being overweight or obese.  

Childhood obesity has a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of young people as they grow into adulthood and is most prevalent among First Nations children, children in culturally diverse communities and in regional Australia.

Backed by thousands of paediatricians and specialist physicians, the RACP is today launching the Switch off the Junk campaign to call for an end to rampant junk food advertising targeting children.

The push comes as a Private Member’s Bill to regulate junk food advertising to children is expected to be introduced to the Australian Parliament today by Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps.  

RACP President and Paediatrician Dr Jacqueline Small says “As Paediatricians, we see the negative effects of overweight and obesity on children every day. We advise and treat our patients to the best of our ability, but we know that something like exposure to junk food advertising hinders many of our efforts.

“We know that children are online daily, watching TV at home or listening to the radio in the car on the way to school, and it’s here that they are being served up constant ads for junk food and sugary drinks.

“We are standing up for our children’s health and asking for the Australian Parliament to regulate junk food advertising to children. We need to see Parliament step in and switch off the junk to help our kids catch up on healthy eating.

President of the RACP Paediatrics and Child Health Division, Professor Nitin Kapur, says: “Children are exposed to predatory marketing of junk food and sugary drink across multiple mediums. Kids are being exposed to almost 200 junk food and drink promotions a week across TV and online platforms.

“We need the Australian Government to intervene and regulate junk food advertising for the sake of our children’s health now and into the future. Childhood obesity can cause lifelong complications, including for the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, dental and neurological systems.

“Children who are overweight or obese are far more likely to need more frequent visits to doctors and specialists. If we regulate junk food advertising to children, it will be good for their health, wellbeing and productivity. It will result in savings for the Government as obesity cost the community $11.8 billion in 2018 and, if nothing is done, may cost an estimated $87.7 billion by 2032[1]”.

Authorised by Louise McElvogue, Interim CEO, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

[1] National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032 – At a glance – Summary with a logic framework (health.gov.au)