Leading cancer advocates worldwide, including the Cancer Council of Australia, have reinforced the message that more needs to be done to reduce the levels of childhood weight problems and obesity in Australia.
Research shows that 40 percent of the 88,000 cancers diagnosed each year in Australia can be prevented through healthier lifestyles established early in life. Obesity is associated with an increased risk in cancer of the colon, breast (post-menopause), endometrium, kidney and oesophagus.
With the incidence of childhood obesity growing, these kids are more likely to be tomorrow’s cancer victims. When is the Government going to see that we need to get our kids more active and eating more nutritious food?
Labor is committed to doing everything possible to give kids the healthy start they deserve. Last week, Labor announced plans to develop a Primary Health in Primary Schools Checklist for parents.
Primary school is the perfect time to take stock of important developments in a child’s life, and to strongly promote good nutrition and exercise as part of a healthy environment for learning.
The Government only funded the Active After School Communities Program after political pressure forced them to act, however the program continues to see up to 28,000 keen Australian children sitting on the sideline.
The Prime Minister cannot continue to ignore the statistics – Australian school children deserve a greater focus on healthy lifestyle initiatives instead of Government rhetoric that the parents are to blame.
Labor has recognised the importance of Health Promotion by creating a dedicated position in the Labor Shadow Ministry, and will continue to hold the Government to account for their neglect of initiatives that could improve the long term health of all Australians.
*Latest statistics show that 25% of Australian school children are overweight or obese. This figure has increased from 11% in 1985.
Contact: Taryn Langdon 02 6277 3334 (Lundy)
or Sean Kelly 02 6277 2039 or 0417 108 362 (Roxon)
