Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

tralia. The report is expected
mid-2024.
In the meantime, Dr Scamps
said she would not let matters
rest and would continue to
advocate for action.
She is now holding consultations
with technology
companies over how to stop
the targeting of children with
pop-up ads for unhealthy food
when they are on social media
platforms such as Facebook
and Instagram.
“As a former GP and a mother
of three teens, I am deeply
concerned about the rising
rate of childhood obesity in
Australia, which sets them up
for a life of chronic disease,”
she said.
“One quarter of all children
and two-thirds of adults are
above the healthy weight
range. Obesity and diabetes
have become societal problems
requiring a societal response.
“That’s why I moved my bill
[in June]. A ban is not radical.
Some 40 countries have done
it, including the UK, Norway,
Mexico and Chile. It just takes
will by the government.”
The Healthy Kids Advertising
Bill 2023 calls for an end to
television and radio advertising
of unhealthy foods between
6am and 9.30pm including on
subscription and/ streaming
services.
It would prohibit the targeting
of children on social media.
This is built into algorithms
used by the platforms and
results in targeted ads appearing
when children are viewing
material, including when they
are using sites for study.
Unhealthy food in the
Healthy Kids Advertising Bill is
defined as food and drink not
recommended for promotion
to children in the 2018 guide
published by the Health Council
of the Council of Australian
Governments.
Research from 2018 suggests
that restricting junk food
advertising on TV between
the hours of 6am and 9.30pm
would result in $778 million in
healthcare savings.
Health & Wellbeing
The Local Voice Since 1991
JANUARY 2024 53