DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

DRS

Media Release

7 January 2008

AMA’S CALL FOR MORE OBESITY SURGERY MISSES THE BIG ISSUE, AN OBESITY EPIDEMIC

DOCTORS CALL ON SPORTING HEROES TO SUPPORT BAN ON JUNK FOOD AND ALCOHOL ADVERTISING TO KIDS IN ORDER TO FIGHT OBESITY EPIDEMIC AND ALCOHOL DAMAGE

 

The Doctors Reform Society notes with concern that amidst an obesity epidemic and calls for easier access to obesity surgery for teenagers, and increasing abuse of alcohol by our young, we see our sporting heroes advertising daily for products which feed directly into these major problems in our society.

“Our young people look up to these sporting heroes but our television screens are awash with these same heroes promoting alcohol and fat or sugar laden fast food,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

“Whilst there is a place for advertising of such products to adults, noted Dr Woodruff, “there is no one who would dispute the fact that many teenagers and younger children will be glued to the cricket this summer and cannot possibly miss their heroes advertising both alcohol and fat/suger laden fast food.”

“These problems will not be addressed by obesity surgery, which is best reserved for the more severe and resistant cases of morbid obesity – and often accompanied by serious risk of side effects, including death. We call on the Australian Medical Association, which does support a ban on junk food advertising to kids, to support our campaign to control advertising of alcohol and fast food by our sporting heroes. We also ask that these sports leaders and their associations consider the effects of their promotional activities on our youngsters who are our future”.