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Junk food

Analysis and Comment (8)

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Hospitals provide a regular flow of captive customers for fast food outlets. Roslyn in Starfish Island

Fast food restaurants have no place in our hospitals

By Timothy Gill, University of Sydney

A number of commentators have raised concerns recently about the increasing corporate presence in Australian schools. At a time of burgeoning rates of obesity and chronic disease, the increasing presence…
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Businesses sponsor schools to increase sales and generate product loyalty. Elizabeth/Table4Five

Why schools and corporate brands shouldn’t mix

By Paul Harrison, Deakin University

The furore following the announcement that Jenny Craig CEO Amy Smith would address a gathering of hundreds of girls' school teachers has once again brought the uncomfortable issue of corporate presence…
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Cakes aren't universally unhealthy – and they play an important role in our society. Flickr/comedy nose

Healthy or harmful? It’s a piece of cake

By Penny Wilson, Australian National University

The obesity epidemic is creating panic in the community, with media commentators expressing outrage at our widening waistbands and academics raising alarms about the health implications of carrying excess…
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Children remember advertisements and, more often than not, they want what they see. Dimitris Papazimouris

Fat Free TV – one step towards tackling childhood obesity

By Kathy Chapman, University of Sydney

The impact of junk food advertising on childhood obesity is a topic often debated in the media. One side calls for banning junk food advertising during children’s television viewing times while the other…
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ACMA has handballed responsibility for regulating junk food advertising to kids to a preventive health agency. Eekadman

Junk food advertising to kids – what’s next for regulation?

By Boyd Swinburn, Deakin University

There’s no evidence that industry self-regulation works to restrict junk food advertising to children. That’s the unsurprising finding of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) long…
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The food industry has won this round but the traffic light labelling fight isn't over yet. IJClark

States should stand up to the food industry on traffic light labelling

By Gary Sacks, Deakin University

The Federal Government has defied expert advice and rejected a traffic light food labelling system for packaged foods, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to show it would give consumers the information…
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Plain packaging is one of many health reforms to enter or pass through parliament last week. AAP

Plain packaging wraps up a big year for health legislation in 2011

By Stephen Leeder, University of Sydney

The final sitting of federal parliament last week lacked no drama, ending with the sudden induction of Peter Slipper as speaker. It was also a mammoth week for health legislation, with the passing of the…

Research and News (1)

Research Briefs (2)

Credit cards users eat more junk food

Cornell University

Using cash and not credit cards to buy groceries leads to lower consumption of junk food, according to US researchers. Consumers…