122 replies to this topic

[HillsAths1]

Just read this article and and this waste of our money gives me the s**t's.
Advertising that someone should exercise may get them to do something in the short term but after a while it is not likely to have any great affect.
How about the goverment gives this money to grass roots clubs that are out there promoting sports where people can get some exercise. The goverment(s) make it difficult for grass root clubs soccer,tennis,athletics to deliver what the goverment wants in its obesity reduction so just give us the money.
Clubs are made to pay ground rental to use sports fields,pools etc, yet librarys/museums are free! go figure!

[Jogger]

Just think what CR could do with even $1million!

[HillsAths1]

Here Here! world domination on $1m

[Speedy Gonzalez]

Is this the same government responsible for cutting the lifestyle benefit? This was the only good thing about private healthcare where you can spend $150 on running shoes and  get $100 back (btw that must have hurt - Kay Patterson getting sacked by Howard - that is like being called uselss by Mr useless). I guess we can look forward to another set of dumb ads promoting the Australian government. As if the Telstra ads aren't enough.


What about  changing food laws like Denmark? Cost = minimal.

[Big Mac]

Exactly!

What the Government needs to do is give money to worthy organisations that actually care about peoples health.

Spend the money on fun, exciting, inclusive activities for children of all abilities and sizes.

Get people young enough interested in fun stimulating and then they wouldn't have to fork out zillions of dollars trying to fix the obesity disease epidemic.

Of course there would still be people suffering from this terrible disease but there would be less!

But am used to Governments not thinking properly.

Big Mac

[FakePlasticTrees]

What article? Why are the government spending $6m to make everybody obese?

[MountainGoat]

Once again the govt buries its head in the sand and only does something for half the problem.

What about what they are eating?

Since the 80's - sales of pizza, burgers, chips, soft drinks and lollies have all gone up. Fruit and veg (exceptt fried potato) have gone down. Of course obesity is the result.

Restricting manipulative advertising for children goes against the sponsorship the political parties get from these companies.

That 6 million will soon get drowned out by many millions more of McDonalds and KFC ads aimed at children.

Which messgae will children hear the loudest????

I also agree that we should be working towards a compete ban on hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils (sources of trans fats)

[MountainGoat]

This govt made game boys etc. cheaper by removing taxes, and made sporting involvement more expensive by cutting lifestyle benefits, and adding GST onto sports club fees.

Fix this problem rather than just and ad campaign

[Bandanna]

I think this is the article

Government to tackle obesity

Very much reminds me of the "Life be in it" Norm cartoon advertising campaign in the 70's, with Norm sitting in front of TV and being urged to get up and fly a kite.

Whilst I commend any initiative to get kids up and about, I wonder if $6M of tax payers' money  could not be better spent, ie towards better school sport facilities and equipment.

[RunDave]

Isn't it ironic that they are launching a TV ad campaign telling kids to watch less TV?

[Bandanna]

quote:

---

Originally posted by hq_premier:
What about what they are eating?

Since the 80's - sales of pizza, burgers, chips, soft drinks and lollies have all gone up. Fruit and veg (exceptt fried potato) have gone down. Of course obesity is the result.

---

It's a worry. My 12-year old just started high school this week. He came home, and was happy to tell me that the school tuck shop sells nachos, burgers, lollies, fish & chips etc.

I think obesity education should start at school first. For what it is worth, I'm taking it up with the school's P&C Committee.

[Rudolf]

Wow, the thread with the governement critic, and I was not in it !

I agree with the posts above.

So wher realy goes the 6 mil ???
Usualy we learn, that the agency getting the 6 mil for advertising campain is somehow conected to the politicians making he decision.

Some of those money will usully return to the politicians themselves.

For them the issue is not, what is the campain about, anything is good which gets the public approval and alows the money transfers.

[RunDave]

For once I agree with you Rudolph.

[slowaz]

Nice idea but the effectiveness is questionable as you all agree. In other reports I have read, the whole child obesity thing is a ticking time bomb for the future with higher incidence of diabetes, heart disease etc leading to continued massive increases in health costs.

Regular exercise is the key. Whatever can be done to encourage young people to undertake even 1/2 hour a day low impact aerobic exercise will be a great help and set them on the right path. Unfortunately I cannot see publicity generating this and PE is a thing of the past in many schools. Call me politcally incorrect but what about funding additional PE teachers targetting 10-15 year olds and changing school curricula to make sure they do the half an hour a day even if this means making the school day a bit longer.

HillAths I like what you say but the only problem is that in my exprience many junior sports clubs are pretty full with kids whose parents are prepared to get them out there and take an interest in what they are doing. Problem is many parents contribute to the epidemic by being lazy bogans themselves, and bringing up their kids the same way. If responsibility for basic exercise was taken out of their hands and put say with schools & PE teachers the kids would be better off.

[Jogger]

I bet some money on some key projects would be money much better spent - one example from the USA is - but I have seen reports about groups in Australia.

Money on TV ads - what a waste.

[JourneymanPhil]

Has anyone ever noticed that the healthier fooods in supermarkets tend to cost more these days than the normal foods?  Light cheese, no-sugar softdrink, no sugar lollies, reduced fat yoghurt etc etc etc... some of the products may still have some junk content - but they dont need to be higher priced than the normal food!

Also the amount of fruit and vegetables coming from overseas with god knows what pumped into them. That has to be looked at...along with the amount of hormones pumped into chickens these days.

Getting the kids out for an hour a day is a commendable idea - but it is not the only solution. A return to the kids playing in the streets till sunset would be fantastic - but are the streets safer?

The Govt needs to take a holistic approach on this issue and not just tackle one reason for the problem!

[Tuttle]

Oh c'mon everyone, it's actually a pretty generous allocation of money.  I'm sure the Gov't wld love to spend more, but after helping secure the wheat contracts in Iraq, there's not much left in the kitty.  ;)

[MountainGoat]

Hormones in chicken is one of the great urban myths. It has been illegal since the 1950's/60's. Added hormones can be used in other animals.

Added anti-biotics are routinely used in chickens though.

[flat feet]

How much would a school recreation, sports and activivty program cost and what would thye benefits be?

Instead of an employment and vocation focussed education program pumping out little soldier for employers.

[JourneymanPhil]

Ok. Not sure if the hormones in chickens is an urban myth or not...but my main point was that good food alternatives have to be cheaper than the crappier alternatives and the government has to take an across the board approach to childhood obesity issue. Television campaigns wont achieve it and are a huge waste of the taxpayers money.

[The Mule]

Instead of $6 million dollars spread thin or an ad campaign that achieves nothing - how about making sporting club membership fees (obviously only ones sanctioned by an approved governing body) tax deductible?  Even if people do it as a tax rort at least the clubs would get the membership fees!  

I also thought that maybe race entry fees could be made tax deductible as well but I imagine that would be much harder to manage.

Also as the parent of a child just starting school this week I was staggered with what is available at the canteen.  Maybe we could spend the $6 million getting Jamie Oliver to do an Aussie version of the School Dinners show! (Not that I believe Mr Oliver is without fault but I believe the concept was a worthy one)

That's my two cents anyway!

[Mark Hobo]

I remember in the early 70s an explosion of the arrival of McDonalds and KFC, also Pizza shops became more common. Before this there was just your local Fish and chips and you only went there on a Friday night. People don't understand moderation and healthy food. You can eat cheap take away as a treat but not all the time. Also as Kevin said, nobody walks to school. I rode my bike 6k to school then trained 5 nights a week for cross country and rode home. My kids both walked to school for 13 years and are now both slim and fit. I think there is a message in it.

[MountainGoat]

The really strange thing is thatkids are in more danger from being driven to school from car accidents.

Also increasing the risk is the high 4wd vehicles which you cant see a small child directly in front or behind. This is more danger (especially at primary schools) than walking.

[Rudolf]

Phil,
from Your post, I did get the impression, that You consider the non sugar drinks and low fat products healthy.

I see this completely differently, and I am certainly not alone in it. So this is what I think :

Any products claiming to be low sugar or non sugar, take just soft drinks, and as an example
DIET COKE : so there is no sugar. It still taste sweet, because there are chemicals added to cheat Your taste buds etc. Some of those chemicals are even officialy proven carcinogens,
but they do lots of other body harm. The latest trick is a new chemical (the name sliped my memory ) which is so powerful, that wery minimal concentration of it, can completely trick the taste buds into believing You taste sweet (there is similar concept for cheating salt taste).
Only very small amount of this chemical needs to be added to have the effect. The amount is however big enough to cause the healt problems,
small enough not to exeed the required limit for compulsory listing of additives.
So You could not even read, it is there.
There are already lawsuits against the company manufacuring it, and companies using it.

As for a calories point and weight loss - it can look since You not getting the sugar and the calories, than the DIET drinks can help You loose weight (regardless of other health consequencies). However people on the DIET drinks are not loosing weight, or not loosing weight as easily as those who are not drinking it
There is a side effect of this taste cheating chemicals - and I do not remember the details, but the result is, that the body respond is actually fat accumulation.


LOW fat - this is another missconcept.

Take dairy - cheese or youghurts.
Youghurt needs to be fat, otherwise is not Youghurt.
If You buy 97% or 99% fat free - what You are actually buying ?
I sometimes ask people - why do You buy 1% or 3%
youghurt ???
So what is that 97% or 99% in the product if it is not fat (so is no Youghurt)
By the taste of it, I would guess it is plastic,
plaster or something similar.
Perhaps, here with the low fat You are getting less calories and maybe loosing weight, but the health risks as a tradeoff are to big.

So far the low fat and nonsugar looks like politicaly correct health option, certainly the
media propaganda are doing their bests.
Just use Your brain, what is cosing Your sweet buds satisfaction, and what is that 97-99% in Youghurt ?

[JourneymanPhil]

Agree with you Rudi. They are not the healthiest options - but sometimes in the supermarket they are the best option. We have also started looking at organic fruit and veges from the appropriate shops. The price of organic fruit and veges is more expensive than normal stuff. It should be cheaper!

[Rudolf]

Phil,
I am saying that full cream cheese and youghurt are really the best option, and there is nothing wrong with the real animal fat.

And if You "need" some type of soft drink (Coke)
than the full sugar option is much better.

Anyway,
how come You are online,
I would think that You are somewher in the middle of blister prevention routine, taping etc
or sleeping or carboloading or cheering Kevin C. in water or ....

[JourneymanPhil]

The 100km race starts at 6.00pm Rudi. Kev C did his swim yesterday and should now be back in Melb! Ill go and take a look this evening for a couple of hours!

[Colin]

Had to laugh last night when I saw kim Beazley supporting this initiative.  :rolleyes:  

What's that about 'charity begins at home'?

[JourneymanPhil]

That's not nice Colin!   ;)    Perhaps Pat Farmer could take him for a jog at lunchtimes!

[JourneymanPhil]

I believe the new adverts are starting today on national television. I described them (via the paper) to Miss 12 year old yesterday and asked her if it would inspire her to do more outside. Puzzled expressionless look in reply and a "Nah" was the answer!

[Mark Hobo]

sad isn't... they just don't understand why we like to keep fit... "its too hard" "it's boring" or the classic "I'm not fit enough to run". Well theres one  way to fix that get out there and off the couch.

[danieljohngreen]

Missed this thread until now.

I have a bit of a vision for this type of problem. At the moment, if a normal person decides they want to get fit they often tend to go and join a gym. This usually has a very high joining fee and is quite an expensive alternative, which could/would turn off a lot of people. The athletics and jogging club structure is perfect to provide support and expertise to people who just want to get fit, as well as those who have athletic aspirations. It just needs to be better supported and perhaps more of a social atmosphere. This should be a national-wide publicised alternative to joining a gym.

It is just going to take a bit more organising and co-operation between a few major parties to lobby for some funding to get it off the ground. There are a few of us who have started working on this and hopefully we will start to see some fruits in the next 12 months or so. Wouldn't it be really nice to see a successful pilot of this concept and then the announcement of $2 million towards this type of thing, it is certainly not out of the question.

Regards
Greeny

[Sparkie]

Some contrary points that will hopefully stimulate the discussion.  I stand be my long-running position that childhood-obesity is primarily a parenting problem, and those seeking to push the responsibility more and more onto governments are simply exaserbating the problem.

* first and foremost, we live in a (still relatively) free country.  You or I should be allowed to eat whatever we want.  Governments should seek to educate and influence, but when people start suggesting that they mandate what people should and shouldn't do, you start down a very slippery slope.

* economics has to rule the day - organic food costs more to produce and has lower demand - it should cost more to buy.  Provided the markets are kept free (very difficult with our current grocery duopoly -  a factor that is rarely raised in these discussions) these matters will sort themselves out over time.  When you seek to distort markets, you rarely achieve the results you were aiming for.

* school canteens - this is an issue of funding more than anything - most schools need to turn a profit from their canteens - the best way to do this is to sell popular food.  It was never an issue when I went to school - BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY ON ME.  If you send your kid to school with a 10 dollar note instead of a packed lunch - whose fault is it?

* food advertising - whilst this might be win-win (no food advertising means no funds to pay for kid's television, which will force the kids to go outside and exercise), I don't think it would pan out that way.  If you don't want your kids watching ads for junk food, try turning off the TV.  If you aren't able to do this, then realise that something has to pay for the shows your kid's watch - you can't have your cake and eat it.

* health insurance should NOT cover running shoes, gym fees, etc.  Insurance is about risk management - there is no risk in when your gym fees come due.  It is wasting your premiums, my premiums and all our taxes that subsidise private health insurance.  We recently reduced our coverage, because it was cheaper to pay out of pocket than to pay premiums - I think most people would be in this boat.  Unfortunately, the likelihood of health insurance premiums ever coming down is slim.

I look forward to being howled down...

[MountainGoat]

Sparkie,

Governments should educate. What are they currently doing to educate people on the dangers of calorie laden diets, and the main foods that contribute to this? (sugary drinks, fast foods etc.).

Governments DO mandate what "people" (read "companies") should and shouldnt do. There are restrictions on alcohol advertising - only allowed after a certain time of night, or during a live sports broadcast. Cigarette advertsing - almost a full ban. The Govt DOES mandate what we can and cant watch on TV. Mnay shows can only be on late at night.

The Govt DOES set speed limits. (another example of the govt telling us what to do). Why? Because if they didnt tell us how to drive - many more irresponsible people will try driving at 150+ in urban areas.,

Kids TV being affected? the best kids shows are generally on the ABC anyway.

With all the evidence of increasing childhood obesity - shouldnt more be done?

Health insurance - why cant people doing the right thing be rewarded? If done correctly, this could potentially save money for insurance premiums. Would the hospitals be in such a "crisis" if more people took more responsibility. People as well as corporations.

The supermarket duopoly. This is a big issue. Coles and Woolworths do dictate to us what to eat by product placement. It also restricts the entry of new food companies into the market.

(now I'll wait to get flamed!!!!!)

[Cl@rkey]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KevinTiller:
Just think what CR could do with even $1million!

---

I have wondered for a long time why the govt spends more money on road toll propoganda than the real killer - Obesity & poor health.

While I don't want to get into the differing opinions here, but I would really like to see more discussion on what you would actually do with the money instead.

KT - what could CR do with $1mil to make a difference to the obesity problem??

[Colin]

quote:

---

Originally posted by danieljohngreen:
The athletics and jogging club structure is perfect to provide support and expertise to people who just want to get fit, as well as those who have athletic aspirations.

---

Any endeavours to get a better jogging/running club structure should be well supported.
The attitude of "I want to run a race but I don't want the constraints of a club" is holding us back.

I've just come back from a place where club structure means well supported races (3000 for a 30km non glamour race in a city of 2million), and well supported races mean that the public support it and therefore the authorities cannot but support it.

Whether it does anything for general obesity (i.e. preaching to converted syndrome) is another thing.

[JourneymanPhil]

Saw the Ad last night. What a waste!

[weary]

Great comment from Crikey today:

  

quote:

---

The Government's latest $6 million taxpayer-funded advertising blitz is designed to get the fat kiddies off the couch and into the great outdoors.

Of course the Government can't really be serious about tackling this issue – after all, last year they ruled out regulating junk food ads targeting the young sprogs, so they can't really think ads are all that effective, can they?

If kids aren't getting fat because of the ads, why would they get thinner because of the ads?

Other governments have banned children being targeted to buy chips, and sweeties. But our lot won't even take vending machines selling such tooth-rotting treats out of schools.

---

[brucer]

let me see! a government trying to stop child obesity.
what about our responsibility? role models have a great influence on the young.
we are so affluent today we buy chips, biscuits, soft drinks etc etc and place them in the pantry. what if these became occasional treats again?

if we do not buy junk then our children and grandchildren will tend not to eat junk.

if we exercise regularly, these habits will become a part of the younger generation.

if we were all determined to be a role model it would be a lot more powerful thasn an advertising campaign - ( we would also have a chance to live longer ourselves - or at least improve the quality of our lives)

take your children and grandchildren for a jog/walk - make it fun.

buy only healthy food for your pantry

save chocolate and other unhealthy choices for occasions - but not to use as a comforter

just a few ideas - lets take our country back by being leaders ourselves.

what do you all think?

[JourneymanPhil]

All Good sentiments. I dont think though that parents should shoulder all the blame for the children getting larger by each generation. Parents, governments, schools and society all have to change how we live and the speed that we are living at! The fast food generation can be reversed, but everyone has to do their part.

[Jogger]

The full Crikey report is here:
http://www.crikey.co...6-1655-559.html

[Filkore]

As a primary teacher I have seen far too many cases of obesity.  I cant remember in my 5 years as a teacher not having at least 1 or more at risk children in my class.

It is shame that a lot of schools are restricted to 1 hour of PE a week.  We simply have our hands tied at school due to constraints from other syllabus areas taking greater priority.  One, one hour lesson is simply not enough to have an impact on children that are relatively inactive.  

Children look at parents and adults that are influential in their lives for guidance.  We need to point them in the right direction.  If we can start at home and school than children will have a better understanding of a healthy lifestyle.  For instance, we have introduced at school a fruit snack between morning roll call and morning tea. I have never seen so many children enjoy fruit in my life.  

Little things are most often the most influential to children.

[brucer]

filkore, i agree. it would be better to have exercise as a daily routine so that it becomes a part of young peoples lives.

we as a society certainly accept inactivity as the norm. we have a long way to go  :)    :)    :)

[Running Nicho]

I must also say that it is a pretty sad effort given that they are going to make it nigh on impossible for uni sporting clubs to survive with the intro of vsu!  Exercise has its most impact b/n 20 and 30 so it is just a band aid solution although I do acknowledge good habits start early.  I believe this would be much better spent with giving parents money off sporting costs such as  rego or in the case of athletics and running race entries!  That way parents can be better equiped to encourage their kids to exercise.

[Jogger]

I saw one of the ads tonight. - which is clearly part of a larger initiative.

[The Mule]

I have just seen the ads - where do I get one of those red lounges to train with??   :D  

Interesting that the majority of the kids featured in the ad are playing by themselves with their lounge chair! (except at the end) What's with that?  Shouldn't the lounge chair be the enemy?  :unsure:  

Also interesting to see nothing about diet in any of it.  I realise it is just 30 seconds to fit a lot into but that's what the ad industry is supposed to be all about!  It is amazing how little $6 million buys these days - maybe they should have just sent every home a fridge magnet!

[Virtual]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KT:
The full Crikey report is here..

---

Be it obesity, RU469, Paul Lennon or Wendel.. We're always in for an entertaining spin w/ the Crikester.

edit: woops I got my chaser mixed up w/ my crikey I meant ru486 of course

[jadey]

Wowa - I love this Crikey website!

Brucer - I dont agree. While if we lived in a perfect world, parents would be great role models to our kids, and for me this would be ideal.  But i have accepted that this is not going to happen.  And it is not definately not made any easier with billion $ advertising campaigns being pumped into yours, mine and everyone else's heads all day long.  

This topic is close to my heart and i could harp on about it all day long, but i dont have time, maybe later.

[Sunni]

A short note about what is happening in my neighbourhood...

The local primary school (public) canteen manager left, about 15 mths ago, and two mums took over the job. They immediately began making changes. Last year they indroduced more healthy drinks.

This year they have increased the sale cost of pies, pasties, hamburgers and sausage rolls (only a little), and have added 'healthy options'. These are denoted on the canteen menue with a  " :) " !! They have kept the sale cost of these items low. One of the mums said to me that they didn't care if they made a loss on the healthy items. The healthy items include salad rollups (in mountain bread), gormet salads (with options like turkey, fresh chicken that they now cook on site, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes etc etc), toasted lapinia bread with healthy fillings. Their idea is to make one group of food less financially appealing and the healthy options more appealing.

In the first week of introducing these items they have had good sales, and a reduction in the number of sausage rolls sold.

Another 'innovation' they introduced last year was a mechanical device which cuts apples into spirals. Their fruit sales, especially at recess, have increased hugely.

I know that this information is only anechdotal and happening on a local scale.

These are parents who are concerned with their own health, and their children's health - and they are spreading their influence through the school (population of about 600 chidren)...

... without any of the governments $6million.   :D

[paulc]

With my son starting school this year (local govenment school) -- I am impressed with the 'healthy options' program.  They have lesson in prep about what foods (and drinks) are healthy, and what are not.  The canteen has a large 'healthy options' section which seems quite reasonably priced.  Unfortuately they still do have chips, lollies etc.

Another great iniative is the 'walking school bus'.  Basically an orgniased walk to school.  The 'bus' will pickup kids from various 'bus-stops' in the area and is run by 2 or more parents.

But all of this only works with the support of parents.  When walking with my son to school - I see many parent driving less than 1km to school.  It's no quicker -- we get to school before them!