LABOR health spokeswoman Julia Gillard said today the Federal Government needed to do more to combat rising levels of childhood obesity.
New statistics show Australia now has the fastest rising rate of childhood obesity in the world, double that of the US and triple that of the UK.
“It's now time for the Howard Government to act,” Ms Gillard said.
“There's been no national leadership on the obesity epidemic, this is the looming health crisis for this country for the 21st century but the minister for health basically wanders around saying Government doesn't have a role.
“This isn't good enough, Australia is going to reap the legacy of these childhood obesity statistics in 20 and 30 years time when we are battling a crippling burden of disease.”
She said childhood obesity tended to lead to obesity in later life
Rising Obesity in Australia
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