TORONTO – A new report trying to tackle childhood obesity in Ontario is urging the province to ban the marketing of junk food to kids under the age of 12.
The Healthy Kids Panel makes wide-ranging recommendations in its report but is not considering a junk food tax.
“The kinds of measures that we’re recommending in that package of recommendations will, in fact, change the trajectory on this issue,” said Alex Munter, co-chair of the panel that wrote the report.
The panel did consider the Ontario Medical Association’s call for a junk food tax, however, decided it is not necessary for now.
Health Minister Deb Matthews said the province is focusing on implementing the recommendations.
“We are committed to seriously considering every one of these recommendations,” she said.
“This is not a nice to-do, this is a must-do. The number of kids obese and overweight has grown by 70 per cent over the last 30 years.”
An estimated 75 per cent of obese children grow into obese adults.
Kelly Murumets, co-chair of the panel, said reducing childhood obesity will require work by all — not solely the government.
“Minister Matthews and our government can’t resolve this issue alone,” she said.
“This will take all of us from the public sector, private sector, not-for-profit — together arm-in-arm to go and tackle this.”
“There’s no silver bullet in this issue. There is no one solution that is going to be the way you resolve childhood obesity.”
The report is also urging a ban on promotions and displays of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods at the cash in stores. It wants restaurants to display the calorie counts of each item on their menu.
The report also recommends a universal nutrition program for all publicly-funded elementary and secondary schools.
According to 2004 government statistics, 27.5 per cent of Ontario kids between the ages of 2 and 17 were overweight or obese.
In 2009, the province spent an estimated $4.5 billion for the direct and indirect costs of obesity.
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Reply to @680News Another usless government report? Prepared by Liberals and at what cost to tax payers? Self-made work project for Liberal supporters/report writers. Money well spent else where.
I do agree that obesity for all ages is a trending problem but don’t believe the government has a place in trying to solve this……..after all, they have problems trying to budget our tax money properly, hence our billions in debt. Are these the people you want telling you how to raise your family and children? The same people who are in the back pockets of the corporations and take direction from the super elite? Come on, they will make head line stories and nothing will change after some millions are spent. If we really have a problem with this, we the people need to stop eating the bad and unhealthy foods. We need to turn the damn TV’s off and go outside and play a game of tag or sports with our kids. Don’t be fooled by their sudden toughness on this issue, i am sure it all has to do with a possible election or popularity contast as all politics do.
If we want things to be done right, we the “tax payer” need to take more control of our everyday issues and stop letting our governments burn through our money and constantly creating a stressful environment for us. If I sound upset, it is because I am tired of listening to these people hype up a story and forget all about it when the promise period is done and we are further in debt.
Last but not least, most of these corporations sponsor events such as the Olympics. Think about that for a second, a fast food chain is the official sponsor of a world wide Althletic Event. A gas company is the sponsor of a world wide Athletic Event. What do either of these companies have in common with being healthy and active? You said it…………….MONEY!
Next, Ontario will petition the CRTC to force satellite and cable companies to eliminate all advertising originating in the US that might target children 12 and under. Yeah, that’ll work really well. What about my neighbour down the street that picks up the Buffalo channels by direct transmission with a modern antenna? More bureaucrats, more waste. We do need to deal with childhood health issues, obesity in particular, but this is not a way to do it.
What a nice and easy solution! Instead of teaching our kids to distinguish what is right and wrong and make intelligent choice in the face of harsh reality, we simply ban the ‘bad stuff’. Parents can now relax and enjoyr themselves while letting their kids sit in front of tv knowing they won’t be targeted by junk food ads. How about let computer games babysit your children while you have more free time. What we truly need to ban lazy parents!
how do you put an age on this? how about 18? at least after that they are considered “adults” and can make their own food choices.
If children had extra curricular activities in school the way they did when I was a kid, there might not be any obesity. When I was a kid I was outside until the lights came on and so were all my friends. I really don’t recall seeing overweight children like you see now.
Everyone knows whats good to eat ,the Govt, should stop wasting money on useless studies,and tackle some of our mental health issues ,poverty issues ,alcohol problems and wasting monies on issues such as not in my backyard re: natural gas fired electricity planta
I dont like that the province is acting like it is the parent of all our kids. We are the parents, not them. Ontario is such a nanny state that it makes me sick. They want to teach nutrition in schools thats one thing. Making parental decisions for my kid is completely another.
Parents shouldn’t have to compete with corporate advertising and marketing to get their kids eating properly. We all know advertising works with people of all ages and it just truely exploits our children.
According to the American Psychological Association “Most children under age 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising and children under age 8 do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising. Advertising directed at children this young is by its very nature exploitative.” It’s been reported (by the NY Times, 2012) “that kids see an average of 5,500 food ads on television every year.” Thats 15 ads per day, just for food, that the average parent has to unteach, unencourage and unenforce.
Why make a parents job even harder? Our government(s) have made pathetic attempts ‘at best’ to end this corporate ‘stalking’ of our children and the corporate lobbing just like there advertising is too strong.
ending childhood obesity starts with proper parenting and proper nutrition… something most kids don’t get either of….
Bingo. With two incomes being forced upon many families because of a decline in purchasing power and a debilitating tax load, families have little choice but to feed their families processed food, high in sodium and fat or fast food because parents are working full time trying to get by. Look at what they eat at home. A ban on junk food at school will do little if the other two meals at home are bad. I often look at what people are buying when I’m standing in line and I’m often amazed at what I see.