This should shock you. 25% of Aussie adolescents are overweight or obese. A recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, states 1 in 4 of our kids are too heavy – this means they face a future of chronic disease and increased risk of cancer if they don’t drop the additional weight before becoming an adult.
With Health Professionals calling on schools and parents to be more pro-active in finding a solution to the youth obesity problem, our Cut To The Chase panel Suzanne Mostyn and Adam Boland say the government has a role to play as well. One of their observations may have an old-fashioned ring to it, but the School Milk Scheme provided a heathy snack for 20 years before it was abandoned in the 70s – and supported the local dairy industry! So, in addition to getting kids to be more active, our team think we should be examining what they eat – including what’s on schools’ tuck-shop shelves!
Do you think school tuck shops should be a ‘healthy choice only’ or should we be educating our kids to make better choices themselves? Join this conversation by letting us know your thoughts below…
If you have any issues you’d like us to cover, share your thoughts in the comments below or email us at editor@thecarousel.com. We want to hear and get to grips with issues that matter to you so speak up Australia!
