Doctors, nutritionists and health officials are demanding the government to take radical steps to tackle the obesity crisis. Education Minister Lynne Kosky announced a ban on high-sugar soft drinks in schools. But Australian Medical Association federal president Mukesh Haikerwal said that this was not going to change present situation and asked to come down with radical measures.
He said that the present generation for the first time in the human history will not live longer than their parents if this is going to be continued. Royal Children's Hospital nutrition services manager Kay Gibbons also urged for the need of a more severe assault on obesity. Ms Kosky's announced that high-calorie, high-sugar soft drinks would be prohibited from canteens and vending machines at all Victorian government primary and secondary schools by the end of the year. But low and no-sugar alternatives as will fruit juices with no added sugar would remain.She also asked the private and Catholic schools to follow the Government's lead. She said that statistics show about 80 % of the teenagers drank high-sugar drinks at alarming levels. When 900 students in the age group of 12-17 were surveyed in five different schools it was shocking to find that nearly 10 % drank more than a litre a day of high-sugar drinks, and nearly 35 % drank about two cans a day. Research showed that teenagers who drank a can of soft drink a day added 6.4 kilograms to their existing body weight. The Royal Children's Ms Gibbons welcomed Ms Kosky's announcement.
