A new health campaign has been launched today by the Cancer Council, warning Australians over the health impacts of sugary drinks.
The ad, featured on YouTube, shows a man drinking a can of fat, saying that's representative of what will happen if the extra kilojoules consumed through the drinks are not burnt off.
The Cancer Council says there are 16 packets of sugar in a regular 600ml soft drink, and one soft drink per day can lead to putting on five kilograms in a year.
Leading public experts and community organisations gathered for a forum in Melbourne today to discuss the health risks associated with high consumption of sugary drinks and to discuss policy options to reduce consumption.
According to research by the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research at Deakin University, children who consume more than 250 ml of sugary drink per day are 26 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese.
Craig Sinclair, Chair of Cancer Council Australia Public Health Committee, says with nearly 25 per cent of children and more than 60 per cent of adults in Austraia overweight or obese, it is vital that we start to investigate ways to reduce kilojoules in diets.
"We have reached a point where sugary drinks are considered an everyday staple, as opposed to an occasion treat.
"Promotion by beverage companies through new media and traditional channel is relentless and it's easier to find a bottle of soft drink than a water tap. We need to change the status quo," he said.
Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia and National Heart Foundation (Victoria) recommended a series of measures to tackle this health crisis: restrictions on marketing sugary drinks to children and reducing availability in children's settings; an investigation into tax options and reducing availability in workplaces.
Diabetes Australia says obesity is a major cause of a range or chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, and sugar-sweetened drinks are known to be a major contributor to the problem.
The ad has been licensed from the New York Department of Health and tailored for an Australian audience.
There are 16 packets of sugar in a regular 600ml soft drink. You wouldn’t eat that amount of sugar, then why would you drink it? - See more at: http://www.cancersa.org.au/cut-my-risk/i-want-to-cut-my-risk/rethink-sugary-drink#sthash.IHUfSdjP.dpuf
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