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Obesity News
Number 185, 31 Mar 2014
Obesity News has links to recently published news stories relating to obesity
prevention from a variety of online sources.
New Zealand
NZ – Sugar and sugary drinks
Sugar cut would hit average Kiwi
The average New Zealander would need to cut their daily sugar intake to a sixth of
what it is now to meet proposed World Health Organisation guidelines that sugars
should make up less than 10% of total energy intake per day and that a reduction to
below 5% of total energy intake per day would have additional benefits.
Source: Stuff, 6 Mar 2014
6 teaspoons of sugar a day helps the diseases stay down, in a most challenging way
After the World Health Organisation released draft guidelines for sugar intake, Public
Health expert bloggers Tony Blakely andNick Wilson. They reviewed the evidence on
the harm sugar may do to our health and conclude the evidence is strong and
reducing sugar intake seems a sensible policy option. They also summarised their
arguments in a Dominion post op ed.
Sources: Public Health Expert, 7 Mar 2014
Dominion Post / Stuff, 18 Mar 2014
Look at lifestyle, not just sugar
Food industry lobbyist Katherine Rich responds to Blakely and Wilson predictably,
including by wrongly accusing them of promoting a “simplistic and superficial onesize-fits-all solution to the obesity epidemic “ and contending that “balancing energy
in with energy out are the keys to a healthy and satisfying diet.”
Source: Dom Post, 24 Mar 2014
Sugar damage not over-egged
Tony Blakely and Nick Wilson respond to Rich.
Source: Dom Post letter to editor, 26 Mar 2014
Sweet and sour
A major article in the NZ Listener features Nelson dentist Rob Beaglehole and covers
sugary drinks, dental health, public health measures and beverage industry reaction.
Source: NZ Listener, 5-11 Apr 2014 (Paid subscription required.)
Sugary drinks ban a welcome stand
The Nelson Mail supports a ban on the sale of sugary drinks in local hospitals.
Source: Nelson Mail, 24 Feb 2014
Polyfest moves to ban sugary drinks
Auckland’s Polyfest is moving to ban sales of sugary drinks during the event with the
aim of combatting diabetes and obesity. Food stalls around the Maori stage have
been told they can sell only sugar-free or diet drinks.
Source: Radio NZ, Morning Report, 14 Mar 2014 (3 minutes)
Are diet drinks a smart swap?
Dental professionals Roby Beaglehole and Professor Murray Thomson comment on
the effect of artificially sweetened beverages on teeth, with Thomson saying it is the
lesser of two evils. Professor Boyd Swinburn says sometimes the lesser of two evils is
the preferred choice.
Source: Dominion Post/Stuff, 2 Mar 2014
FIZZ conference presentations
Presentations made at the FIZZ conference on a sugar-free Pacific by 2030 are on the
FIZZ website.
Source: FIZZ website
NZ – Other
Is junk food promoted through sport?
Food environments in sport settings provide frequent opportunities to purchase and
consume energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, according Mary-Ann Carter’s research
by PhD research.
Source: Otago University Research Archive
Healthy choices critical for healthy lifestyle
University of Canterbury’s assistant marketing professor, Dr Ekant Veer gave a public
lecture on how public health campaigns can be improved.
View the lecture on You Tube, 13 Mar 2014
Source: University of Canterbury/Scoop 6 Mar 2014
Healthy Families NZ
A Ministry of Health’s webpage supports its Healthy Families NZ programme.
Source: Ministry of Health website
Greens launch Safe Walking and Cycling to School policy
The Green Party has announced its policy to provide $200 million of new investment
in infrastructure so kids can cycle and walk to school safely and to ease congestion
on New Zealand’s roads. Their online survey/checklist aims to get feedback on what
needs to change on local streets to make it safe for kids to bike or walk to school
In: Safe Walking and Cycling to School
Source: Press Release, Green Party/ Scoop, 13 Mar 2014
Editorial: Greens' school transport idea makes sense
A Herald editorial says this promising initiative would not only unclog our roads, it
would help to improve the health of our children.
Soured: NZ Herald, 15 Mar 2014
Improving cost-benefit analysis of integrated public transport, walking and cycling
This NZ Transport Agency research report examines evidence on interventions that
could improve the integration of public transport with walking and cycling, in order
to provide decision makers with a robust basis for the appraisal of measures.
Source: NZ Transport Agency, Dec 2013
Kids' TV habits sound alarm
Parenting experts are alarmed at a new study that shows two thirds of Kiwi infants
are watching up to three hours of television a day.
In: Growing up in New Zealand
Source: NZ Herald, 2 Mar 2014
Australia
Australia – Food labelling
Australia: Big food fight continues after Senator Fiona Nash controversy
Michael Moore of the Australian Public Health Association gives some background
on how the Australian Food and Grocery Council has tried to undermine the Health
Star Rating system after being part of the process that developed it.
Source: ABC, 30 Mar 2014
Australia: Ratings system a powerful weapon against obesity
Jane Martin from the Obesity Policy coalition has an opinion piece on why the new
healthy star labelling system on packaged foods is needed.
Source: Daily Telegraph, 7 Mar 2014
Australia – Other
Obesity a fast-growing problem for Australia
Research places obesity as Australia’s biggest public health threat and says it has
overtaken smoking as the leading cause of premature death and illness.
In: No time to weight, Obesity Australia.org
Source: NZ Herald, 28 Mar 2014
Personal responsibility or nanny state for the prevention of obesity
“We may think we are exercising our freedom of choice when actually we are making
choices from what's being made available to us!" This Australian network has ideas
for practitioners, researchers and policy makers on obesity prevention.
Source: Co-Ops Collaboration, 14 Mar 2014
Australia: Would your child eat vegetables for 25c a day?
A proposal to pay Australian children 25c a day to eat fruit and vegetables has the
backing of leading dietitian Dr Rosemary Stanton who advises the government on
national food guidelines. A trial in Utah, USA, found it doubled healthy eating.
Source: News.com, 7 Mar 2014
Australia: Parents - say no to soft drinks at weekend sport
Cancer Council Queensland has backed the State Government's push for a ban on
soft drink sales at children's sporting events.
Source: Cancer Council Queensland, 21 Feb 2014
Australia: Junk Food Injunction
Junk Food Injunction, a newsletter from Cancer Council NSW, summarises
complaints against the food industry initiatives in the last year. It includes a report
card on junk food marketing to kids in Australia 2013 and an article on loopholes that
keep coming up under the Quick Service Restaurant Initiative.
Source: Junk Food Injunction, Feb 2014 (Cancer Council NSW)
Australia: Coke's Aussie teen cycling program could go global
Coca-Cola could export its Australian-devised teen ‘anti-obesity’ programme
Happiness Cycles globally. Although Coke stresses that Happiness Cycles is not a
marketing initiative, the programme is led by its marketing division.
Source: AdNews, 18 Mar 2014
United Kingdom
UK – Sugar
Big Food is in wilful denial about the harm sugar does to our children
The science director of ‘Action on Sugar’ Alseem Malholtra argues that only by
improving processed foods can we tackle obesity among the young. However, he
says, political ideology continues to trump scientific evidence and the interests of Big
Food continue to take precedence over our children's health.
Source: The Guardian, 16 Mar 2014
UK: Sugar 'could be addictive' – tax needed
Sugar could be addictive and the government may need to introduce a tax on it to
combat obesity, England's chief medical officer says. She believes the food and drink
industry is unlikely to resize products - and offer smaller portions of food products
containing high levels of sugar, salt and fat - without strong government action.
Source: The Guardian, 4 Mar 2014
UK: Sugar adviser linked to Coca-Cola 'will not act' on UN guidance
A radical UN recommendation to halve sugar intake will not be implemented in
Britain says a Whitehall adviser on nutrition who has worked for Mars and Coca-Cola.
Source: Daily Mail, 9 Mar 2014
UK – Food Marketing
UK: Action on Junk Food Marketing – new campaign group
The British Heart Foundation is leading a group of organisations, Action on Junk Food
Marketing, which wants the UK Government to introduce stronger regulations to
stop advertising of unhealthy foods directly to children on TV and online.
Read their briefing paper Junk Food Marketing to Children Campaign, Mar 2014
Source: British Heart Foundation website
UK: Family TV programmes saturated with junk food ads
Millions of young British people are being exposed to ads during primetime TV which
are banned from children’s programming. An analysis of over 750 adverts found
almost one in four TV ads shown between eight and nine pm were for food (22%),
with viewers seeing as many as six junk food adverts per hour. Figures show that
children’s TV viewing peaks around eight pm.
Source: Children’s Food Campaign, 21 Mar 2014
UK: Ban TV junk food ads until 9pm, say campaigners
Television adverts for unhealthy food aimed at children should be banned until after
9pm, says the Children's Food Campaign group.
Source: BBC News, 21 Mar 2014
UK: Sugary food makers target kids with free internet 'advergames’
Food firms are targeting children as young as five with addictive free games that plug
products containing high levels of sugar, salt and fat, and which are promoted on
packaging and social media sites.
Source: The Mirror, 22 Mar 2014
UK: Child rights in marketing and advertising
The Guardian has a series of articles on marketing to children – and children’s rights.
Source: The Guardian, 24-25 Feb 2014
United States
US – Trends in obesity rates
New CDC data show fall in obesity rates among 2 to 5 year olds
The latest CDC obesity data show a significant decline in obesity among children
aged 2 to 5 years. Obesity prevalence for this age group went from nearly 14 percent
in 2003-2004 to just over 8 percent in 2011-2012 – a decline of 43 percent.
In: Journal of the American Medical Association, 26 Feb 2014
Source: CDC, 25 Feb 2014
US: What Accounts for the Reduction in Obesity Rates for Preschool Children?
Professor Lawrence Gostin discusses the apparent fall in preschool obesity rates.
Source: JAMA Forum, 19 March 2014
US: Plunge In Preschool Obesity? Not So Fast, Experts Say
Following the news that American pre-school obesity rates are decreasing, obesity
specialists took a closer look at the data. Some question the 43 percent claim,
suggesting that it may be a statistical fluke and pointing out that similar studies find
no such decrease in obesity among US pre-schoolers.
Source: Reuters/Huffington Post, 16 Mar 2014
US Child Obesity Rates Actually Just as Unnerving as 10 Years Ago
Despite headlines proclaiming plummeting obesity rates, The Atlantic points out the
study only showed a substantial decrease in the obesity rate among two to five years
olds: obesity rates in teenagers increased. It concludes: “Overall, there have been
no significant changes in obesity prevalence in youth or adults between 2003-2004
and 2011-2012.”
In: Journal of the American Medical Association, 26 Feb 2014
Source: The Atlantic, 25 Feb 2014
US – Sugar
US: How to deal with sugar
An editorial by the Washington Post’s editorial board argues that Congress needs to
roll back subsidies to sugar producers and tax sugar.
Source: Washington Post, 24 Feb 2014
US: Dispatches from the California Soda Wars
Reviews three recent news stories from California which, taken together, suggest
California’s political climate may be at a tipping point and measures to reduce intake
of excess sugar may succeed – despite the best efforts of Big Beverage.
Source: Calorie Lab, 11 Mar 2014
Big Soda's Front Group Arrives Early in San Francisco
Earlier this month, lawmakers in San Francisco introduced a bill that would tax
sugary beverages at two cents per ounce. In response, Big Soda has set up a front
group "The Coalition for an Affordable City," to oppose it.
Source: Huffington Post, 5 Mar 2014
US – Other
US proposes major update to food labels in bid to combat obesity
Packaged foods sold in the United States would display calorie counts more
prominently and include the amount of added sugar under a proposal to significantly
update nutritional labels for the first time in 20 years as health officials seek to
reduce obesity and combat related diseases such as diabetes. This is not, however, a
move to front-of-pack labelling like traffic lights or the Australian Health Star Rating
system.
Source: Reuters, 27 Feb 2014
US: The effects of ads that target kids shown to linger into adulthood
New research has demonstrated that when companies advertise to kids using
mascots or characters, the love of the brand and feelings that the product is
wholesome and healthful can persist well into adulthood.
In: Journal of Consumer Research, June 2014
Source: Globe and Mail, 13 Mar 2014
US: Genetic link between fried foods and obesity?
A Harvard study shows that the adverse effects of regular fried food consumption
may vary depending on the genetic makeup of the individual.
In: BMJ, 18 Mar 2014
Source: Harvard Gazette, 18 Mar 2014
International
WHO on sugar and physical activity
WHO halves sugar intake advice to 5 percent of daily intake
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s suggested guidelines recommend that
intake of “free sugars” takes up less than 5% of the average person's diet. The
suggested limits apply to all sugars added to food, as well as sugar naturally present
in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates.
Source: Reuters, 5 Mar 2014
WHO opens public consultation on draft sugars guideline
WHO is launching a public consultation on its draft guideline on sugar intake. When
finalized, the guideline will provide countries with recommendations on limiting the
consumption of sugars to reduce public health problems like obesity and tooth
decay. Check out more details on the proposal and how to make a submission.
Source: WHO website, 5 Mar 2014
WHO: Physical inactivity kills over 3 million each year
A World Health Organization briefing paper on physical activity notes physical
inactivity kills approximately 3.2 million people each year and that physical inactivity
is a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It estimates one in three
adults across the globe is not active enough.
In: Briefing paper, WHO, Feb 2014
Source: OnMedica, 25 Feb 2014
International - Other
NOURISHING Food Policy Framework
This database includes actions that governments are taking all over the world to
promote healthier diets, reduce obesity and prevent cancer and other noncommunicable diseases.
Source: World Cancer Research Fund International, Updated 10 Mar 2014
Restricting food advertising and other forms of commercial promotion
A global snapshot of efforts to restrict junk food marketing has examples of policy
actions that countries around the world are doing.
Source: World Cancer Research Fund International, table updated 29 Jan 2014
EU eyes reformulation and marketing restrictions to cut childhood obesity
Restricting marketing to children and continuing to cut salt, fats and added sugar in
processed foods are among initiatives put forward in a plan to tackle childhood
obesity, agreed by EU member states in Greece recently.
In: EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity 2014-2020 (European Commission) (PDF)
Source: Food Navigator, 3 Mar 2014
Overweight children could become new norm in Europe, says WHO
Being overweight is in danger of becoming the new norm for children as well as
adults in Europe, the World Health Organisation warns, issuing figures showing that
up to a third of 11-year-olds in some countries are too heavy.
Source: The Guardian, 24 Feb 2014
French Parliament pushes 'junk-food' tax
A French senatorial report proposes a junk-food tax on products linked to heart
disease. The tax is aimed at soft drinks, which currently benefit from low taxes.
Source: EurActiv, 24 Mar 2014
Ireland: Ban on takeaways near schools and playgrounds to battle obesity
The Draft Local Area Plans which dictate national planning for the next ten years are
currently passing through the Government’s consultation stage. One rule would
mean a ban on fast-food restaurants from building in certain exclusion zones around
schools and playgrounds in a bid to battle the country’s obesity problem.
Source: Irish Independent, 20 Mar 2014
Compiled by
Robin White
Fight the Obesity Epidemic (FOE)
PO Box 29-016 Ngaio, Wellington, New Zealand
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