NATION-leading LiveLighter campaign is urging Australian supermarket chains to ditch confectionary at checkouts.
A Heathway-funded study has found most parents provided children with unhealthy treats such as lollies, icy poles, ice cream, hot chips and biscuits every day.
“The LiveLighter campaign is calling on Australian’s major supermarket chains to help the community tackle our growing epidemic of overweight and obesity,” WA Heart Foundation chief executive Maurice Swanson said.
“Most parents viewed treats as an unhealthy food that should be consumer infrequently,” Dr Melanie Pescud said.
“However, this did not prevent them from giving unhealthy treats to their children on regular basis.”
Parents were reported giving unhealthy snacks and treats to children in order to control their behaviour, show love and affection and help with social pressures that children may be experiencing.
Dr Pescud said parents used unhealthy food to bribe children into eating healthy.
“In WA, more than two in three adults are either overweight or obese, and 25 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds are overweight or obese,” Mr Swanson said.
“This change will help parents deal with children’s pester power at supermarket checkouts, but will also reduce pressure on adults to make inappropriate purchases.”
Supermarkets in Western Australia should be advised to consider ending the end-of-aisle junk snack promotion, the report found.
